U.S. Sanctions on Iranian Officials and Companies

The United States announced today, Wednesday, the imposition of sanctions on Iranian officials and companies over allegations of serious human rights violations, increasing pressure on Tehran due to its suppression of protests while Washington celebrates International Women's Day. The U.S. Department of the Treasury stated that it "also imposed sanctions on two senior officials in the Iranian prison sector, accusing them of being responsible for serious human rights violations against women and girls." Washington also sanctioned an Iranian military leader, a senior official in the Revolutionary Guard, and a leader connected to the Iranian government's efforts to block internet services. The statement noted that the sanctions also include three Iranian companies and their leaders for their contribution to suppressing protests in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. These actions are part of the tenth round of U.S. sanctions since Tehran's crackdown on protests that erupted after the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September while in custody of the morality police enforcing strict dress codes. The Iranian protests represent one of the toughest challenges faced by the religious regime in Tehran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Iran accuses Western powers of inciting the unrest, which security forces have confronted with violent actions.