US sanctions Iranian security officials over ‘violent crackdown’ on protests
The United States has imposed sanctions on several high-ranking Iranian security officials and financial networks, citing their involvement in a brutal crackdown on peaceful protests and the laundering of billions of dollars in oil revenues. The move is the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, which have been simmering for years.
At the center of the sanctions is Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security. Larijani, a former speaker of the Iranian parliament, has been accused of playing a key role in orchestrating the violent suppression of protests that have rocked the country in recent months. The US Treasury Department, which announced the sanctions, described Larijani as a “key facilitator” of the Iranian regime’s efforts to quell dissent.
In addition to Larijani, four regional commanders of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces and Revolutionary Guard were also sanctioned. These individuals, who were not named, are accused of overseeing the use of lethal force against protesters and dissidents. The US Treasury Department alleged that they had “directly participated” in the violent crackdown, which has resulted in the deaths of dozens of people and the arrest of thousands more.
The sanctions also target several Iranian financial institutions and networks, which are accused of laundering billions of dollars in oil revenues. The US Treasury Department alleged that these networks had been used to funnel money to the Iranian military and other regime-backed entities, which have been involved in the suppression of protests.
The US government has been vocal in its condemnation of the Iranian regime’s human rights record, particularly with regards to its treatment of protesters and dissidents. The State Department has accused Tehran of engaging in “systematic repression” and “egregious human rights abuses,” including the use of torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances.
The sanctions announced on Wednesday are the latest in a series of measures taken by the US to pressure the Iranian regime over its human rights record and other issues. In recent months, the US has imposed sanctions on several high-ranking Iranian officials, including the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Iranian government has responded to the sanctions by accusing the US of interfering in its internal affairs. Tehran has long maintained that the protests are the result of foreign meddling, and has accused the US and other Western countries of seeking to destabilize the country.
The sanctions are likely to further exacerbate tensions between the US and Iran, which have been on the rise since the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. The move, which was widely criticized by other signatories to the agreement, has led to a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.
The US has been seeking to pressure Iran into renegotiating the nuclear deal, which it claims is flawed and does not do enough to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran, on the other hand, has maintained that the deal is non-negotiable, and has accused the US of seeking to undermine its sovereignty.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Iranian regime will respond to the latest sanctions. The US has made it clear that it will continue to pressure Tehran over its human rights record and other issues, and it is likely that we will see further escalation in the coming weeks and months.
In the meantime, the people of Iran will continue to suffer under the yoke of a repressive regime that is determined to maintain its grip on power at any cost. The international community must continue to speak out against the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses, and to support the brave men and women who are risking their lives to demand freedom and democracy.
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News Source: https://x.com/RT_com/status/2011847406325813466
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