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Germany, France, Denmark, Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic have submitted proposals for new European Union sanctions against Iran for suppressing protests over women's rights, Reuters reported on Monday, citing Spiegel magazine.

The proposed sanctions target 16 people, organizations and institutions primary responsible for the clampdown on nationwide protests that were ignited by the death in custody of a young woman, Spiegel added.

Those proposing the sanctions are aiming for the EU foreign ministers to decide on them at their meeting on Oct. 17, with no resistance expected from the members of the bloc.

Germany's foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday that Tehran's suppression of protests was "an expression of sheer fear of education and the power of freedom" and promised sanctions.

The anti-government protests, which began at 22-year-old Mahsa Amini's funeral on Sept. 17 in the Kurdish town of Saqez, have spiralled into the biggest show of opposition to Iran's authorities in years, with many calling for the end of more than four decades of Islamic clerical rule.