Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The government has announced another 18 Iranian officials are banned from travelling to New Zealand in response to the regime's crackdown on protesters.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Monday announced a third tranche of bans on Iranian officials, saying it was sending a message to Iran that New Zealand would not tolerate denial of human rights and violent suppression of protests.
It brings the total number of banned officials to 55, following earlier bans on 37 Iranians connected to the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died in hospital after being detained for wearing her hijab "improperly".
Her death led to widespread protests in the country. Some of the protesters have been handed the death penalty by Iran courts.
A further 11 officials and seven Iran entities have also been banned from travel to New Zealand over the manufacture and supply of drones to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Despite international pressure, the Iranian regime has continued that severe and excessive repression of peaceful demonstrators since Mahsa Amini's death, including the unconscionable execution on the 19th of May of three people in connection with their role in the protests," Mahuta said.
"Today's extension of the travel ban is a continuation of a series of deliberate measures which demonstrate the seriousness with which we view the current human rights situation in Iran.
"This is not the end of our efforts with Iran. Additional individuals and further measures remain under consideration given the Iranian state's ongoing egregious abuses of human rights."
