G7 foreign ministers warn Iran of possible new sanctions over crackdown

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven, joined by the European Union’s high representative, issued a joint statement expressing "grave concern" at reports of mass casualties, widespread injuries and alleged human-rights abuses in Iran’s nationwide protests, and warned the G7 "remains prepared" to impose further measures should Tehran continue its security response. The statement said "additional action remains on the table" and that continued violations "could prompt further restrictive measures from the G7."

The ministers - representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States - called on Iranian authorities to show restraint and to end the use of force against civilians. The joint text urged Tehran to respect its international obligations and to protect rights including freedom of expression, the right to seek, receive and impart information, and the freedoms of association and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal.

Casualty figures from the unrest vary widely. Activists and multiple media outlets have cited tallies ranging from around 2,000 to more than 3,000 dead; those counts are not independently verified. The protests, which began against a backdrop of economic hardship and a collapsing currency, have spread nationwide and have been met by a severe security response that foreign capitals and rights groups say has led to large numbers of arrests and injuries.

In parallel with the G7 statement, the United States announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials accused of suppressing the protests. U.S. Treasury measures singled out the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, whom Washington says was among the first officials to call for violence against demonstrators. European Union leaders signaled they too are considering tougher measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was considering strengthening sanctions "to push forward that this regime comes to an end and that there is change."

Diplomatic activity has intensified. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting at the request of the United States, and Western capitals framed the coordinated language of the G7 statement as an effort to keep pressure on Tehran while preserving multilateral levers. The joint communique did not list new, concrete sanctions, instead leaving room for further collective action should Tehran not alter course.

Iranian officials responded with a mixture of conciliatory and defiant tones. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sought to lower immediate tensions in public comments, saying "Between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is a better way" and expressing confidence that "there is no plan for hanging" in apparent reference to activists’ fears of imminent executions. Other officials, however, warned that foreign intervention could invite responses and the head of the judiciary publicly urged swift punishment for those detained.

On the ground, observers reported a reduction in visible street activity in Tehran after days of heavy gunfire, with mornings showing fewer bonfires and debris. Telecommunications monitors registered a prolonged internet blackout, which NetBlocks said had lasted more than six days. Several governments advised their nationals to leave Iran if possible, and some carriers altered flight paths and schedules for safety reasons.

The G7 warning underscores a diplomatic threshold: Western governments are signaling that punitive options, including coordinated sanctions, remain available while keeping channels of multilateral pressure open. With a U.N. Security Council session imminent and allied measures already under way, the international community faces an unfolding choice between intensified pressure to curb rights abuses and the risks of further escalation.