The European Union will impose sanctions on Iran on January 29 in response to the violent suppression of protests, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced ahead of a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers, Interfax reported.

"We will adopt European sanctions today against those responsible for repression in Iran: members of the government, prosecutors, police chiefs, members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, those responsible for shutting down the internet," Barrot said.

"If you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as terrorists,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas told journalists. She added that the steps to put the IRGC on the same level as Islamic Jihad groups were in motion.

She had also posted on social media platform X (previously Twitter): "Iran’s security forces are responsible for mass killings. Today, we are imposing new sanctions on those directly responsible for the violent crackdown on protests that has killed thousands. I also expect that Foreign Ministers will take a political decision for the EU to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Because, if you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as a terrorist."

The EU will freeze the assets of more than 20 individuals and entities and ban them from entering EU territory, Barrot said.

Mass protests erupted across Iran in late December, with shop owners and university students joining demonstrations against government policies amid a sharp depreciation of the currency and rising prices. The unrest subsequently spread to all provinces of the country.

The Iranian Foundation for Martyrs and Veterans Affairs reported on January 23 that 3,117 people had been killed during the protests. According to the foundation's statement, 2,427 of those killed were civilians and security personnel, with many described as bystanders and "protesters shot by organised groups".

Time magazine, citing royalist figures, claimed earlier on January 26 that some 30,000 people were killed by Iranian security forces, however, that figure has not been verified. The Human Rights News Agency (HRANA) reportedly said more than 5,000 people were killed, including security forces. 

CNN reported, citing sources, that US President Donald Trump is considering launching another major strike against Iran following unsuccessful preliminary negotiations between Washington and Tehran on limiting the country's nuclear programme and ballistic missile production.