France, Canada and the Netherlands Friday took measures against Iran, while the United States pledged Friday to respond to what it called a "bloody repression" campaign, and provided figures for the death toll during the protests that began last month after the death of a young woman while she was detained at a police station on charges of wearing indecent clothing.

On Friday, Canada announced new sanctions against the regime in Iran, and permanently banned 10,000 officials, including members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, from entering its territory.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, "It is a measure that has only been resorted to in the most serious circumstances against regimes that commit war crimes or genocide, as in Bosnia and Rwanda."

"The barbaric Iranian regime, which committed murder and sow terror, must be held responsible," the Canadian prime minister added, noting "an irresponsible disregard for human rights."

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said, "The Iranian regime is repressive, theocratic and misogynistic."

leave immediately

In turn, the French Foreign Ministry called on Friday its citizens who "visit Iran to leave the country as soon as possible, given the risks of arbitrary arrest to which they expose themselves."

"All French visitors, including dual nationals, are at great risk of arrest, arbitrary detention and unfair trial," the foreign ministry said.

She added that "this risk also concerns people who make a simple tourist visit," noting that "in the event of arrest or detention, respect for basic rights and the safety of people is not guaranteed."

It is noteworthy that the Iranian authorities arrested two French citizens a few days ago and published a video clip in which they confess to spying, and the French Foreign Ministry called on Iran to release them.

Like France, the government of the Netherlands advised all its nationals to leave Iran and not to travel there under any circumstances.


Reply format

For its part, the US State Department said Friday that the United States will continue to coordinate with its allies on how to respond to the "bloody crackdown" against protesters in Iran and "state-sponsored violence" against women.

"The Iranian government has so far killed more than 100 people in its bloody campaign," Foreign Ministry spokesman Vidant Patel told reporters.

Iran is currently witnessing a protest movement led by women that erupted after the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, after she was stopped by the morality police on September 16.

According to official figures, 60 people were killed during the protests, including 12 members of the security forces, while human rights groups are talking about more than 90 deaths.

Tehran accuses outside powers of fueling the protests.