U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Iranian Officials for Violently Suppressing Protests.

WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials and entities accused of repressing protests and engaging in shadow banking activities.

WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Treasury Department, Iranian officials, and entities linked to Iranian financial institutions.

WHEN & WHERE: Sanctions were announced on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

KEY QUOTE: “The U.S. supports the Iranian people’s call for freedom and justice.” – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

IMPACT: Those subjected to the sanctions are blocked from access to their U.S. assets and business.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced it is imposing new sanctions on Iranian officials and entities accused of violently suppressing protests against the Islamic Republic and engaging in illicit financial activities. The sanctions target the secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security, Ali Larijani, who is alleged to have called for violence against protesters.

In addition, 18 individuals and companies tied to a shadow banking network connected to Iranian financial institutions were also sanctioned. These measures block access to U.S. assets and restrict business dealings with the named parties.

“The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, adding: “At the direction of President Trump, the Treasury Department is sanctioning key Iranian leaders involved in the brutal crackdown against the Iranian people. Treasury will use every tool to target those behind the regime’s tyrannical oppression of human rights.”

Along with Larijani, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders who “oversee elements of the security forces that are violently repressing the Iranian people.”

Image by Ted Eytan.

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