US sanctions, designates 14 Iranian entities and officials for role in cracking down on protests
The U.S. on Wednesday announced sanctions and other designations on 14 Iranian entities and officials, in an effort to hold Iran accountable for its crackdown on the ongoing protests against the regime nationwide.
A protester hold up a picture of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman whose death in the custody of Iran’s “morality police” has sparked widespread unrest. Credit: Twitter.
Marking 40 days since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested Sept. 13 by the “morality police” in Tehran and died in custody three days later, the State and Treasury Department designations aim to demonstrate that the U.S. “is committed to supporting the Iranian people,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Blinken stated that the U.S. is designating three commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for their “brutal responses” to the protests; six officials within Iran’s prison system who are responsible for or complicit in “serious human rights abuses;” the governor of the Province of Sistan and Baluchistan, “for his role in overseeing the violent response by security forces against peaceful protestors;” two entities involved in “censorship, surveillance, and malicious cyber activity against the Iranian people;” and the commander and chief of police in the Isfahan Province “for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely the cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of peaceful protestors;” as well as sanctioning two individuals and one entity “implicated in extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in Iran.”
“The United States is committed to working to promote justice and accountability for human rights violations and abuses in Iran,” said Blinken. “We will continue to find ways to support the people of Iran as they peacefully protest in defense of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in doing so, will continue to impose costs on individuals and entities in Iran who engage in the brutal repression of the Iranian people.”
In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told media: “Well, I condemn the actions of the Iranian regime in cracking down on democratic protests which were occurring in Iran. And I also think it’s important to assert the human rights of women in Iran, Mahsa Amini and the consequential protests that we’ve seen a crackdown, particularly on women who are exercising their human rights to dress as they see fit, is something that Australia will continue to protest to the Iranian regime on. These protests are protests about human rights. And I stand, as I do think most Australians will overwhelmingly stand, with the women and the people of Iran in standing up for their human rights. And I condemn the crackdown of the regime. And I call upon the regime to respect human rights and respect the rights of people to protest peacefully.”
JNS/J-Wire
There is no place for the oppressive thugs running Iran, not even in hell. The protesters may need to arm themselves and occupy the centres of government and communications.