The United States, UK and European Union have toughened sanctions against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) as part of new restrictions on Tehran over alleged human rights violations.
The sanctions are an addition to measures already taken over Iran’s hardline response to protests that rocked the country since the September death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly breaching the country’s dress code for women.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced Monday a travel ban and assets freeze on four individuals and the IRGC “in its entirety,” while the US Treasury Department sanctioned four senior officials of Iran’s security forces.
Brussels added eight individuals including a hardline lawmaker, a regional IRGC commander and officials at its investment arm, to its sanctions list, as well as mobile operator Ariantel which has been accused of having helped authorities track down protesters..
US sanctions targeted four senior officials of the Law Enforcement Forces of Iran and IRGC, the primary Iranian security forces responsible for the regime’s brutal suppression of the protests that broke out in September 2022″ after Amini’s arrest and death.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also took action against Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace leader, taking aim at the authority overseeing cyberspace policy and the blocking of popular websites.
Treasury under Secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson said Iranian people deserve freedom of expression without the threat of violent retaliation and censorship from those in power.
Washington’s latest sanctions involve blocking the US property of those targeted alongside their majority-owned entities, among other restrictions.
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