EU to target nine Iranians over citizen detentions, diplomats say

By John Irish and Sabine Siebold

PARIS/BERLIN (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers will target nine Iranians linked to what the bloc calls a policy of state-sponsored hostage-taking in new sanctions expected to be adopted on Monday, two European diplomats said.

In recent years, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Among them are at least 20 European citizens, diplomats say.

Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from countries through such arrests, allegations denied by Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality.

France, which has two of its nationals detained in what it has described as conditions akin to torture, has led efforts to add pressure on Iran over the issue.

"To free them we will increase pressure on the Iranian regime," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers earlier this week.

"We will adopt on Monday additional European sanctions against Iranian officials who are responsible for this policy of state hostage-taking," he said, without mentioning the number.

A senior European diplomat and a second diplomat said nine people among those deemed responsible for the policy would be added to the EU sanctions list, which covers asset freezes and travel bans. They did not name them.

"You really have to take action against that policy of just picking people off the streets, throwing them in jail just to get something from some European member states and that's what we're doing now," said the senior diplomat.

As part of efforts to raise pressure on Iran, France is preparing a complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Iran for violating the right to consular protection.

The 27 EU states have also toughened their stance on Tehran's advancement of its nuclear programme and its military support to Russia in recent months.

(Editing by Philippa Fletcher)