The European Union extends the sanctions imposed on Syria

The European Union Council has extended sanctions against Syria over the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, targeting 25 individuals and 3 entities, for an additional period until 16 October 2025.

The sanctions include freezing the financial assets of the targeted individuals, as well as a ban on the provision of funds or economic resources to them by any person or entity in the European Union.

A travel ban has also been imposed on the listed individuals to the EU.

A statement issued by the European Council explained that the aim of these sanctions is to support the EU’s efforts to combat the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, as well as to enhance the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the destruction of these weapons.

The current sanctions were first introduced in 2018, and the EU has confirmed that it’s closely monitoring developments in this area, and reserves the ability to renew sanctions and amend the list of targets if the desired objectives are not achieved.

The extension of the sanctions includes the “Scientific Studies and Research Center”.

The list also includes a group of officers and academics, such as Tariq Yasmina, a Syrian officer, and Khaled Nasri, director of an institute, which is responsible for the production and development of computer and electronics systems.

The sanctions also include Walid Zughaib, a director of an institute, which is affiliated with the research center and is concerned with the development and mechanical production of weapons programs, in addition to Colonel Firas Ahmad, director of the institute’s security office.

Eu sanctions also targeted Dr. Saeed Saeed, a prominent academic.

In addition to the Scientific Studies and Research Center, the European Union extended sanctions on Mohammad Nazir Houranieh and Shadi Houranieh, two Syrians with Canadian citizenship who operate a company that supplies the center with materials.

The Mohammad Nazir Houranieh and Sons is a metals company located in Damascus, which imports metals from European companies and then manufactures them in Syria.

It has been included on the French sanctions list since January 2018.

The extension of sanctions also included Russian entities and individuals, including military institutions and intelligence agencies, in addition to diplomatic figures.