During the solidarity protest in Jerusalem in 2022 October 6 Israelis hold placards in support of Iranian Mahsa Amini. The United States, Britain and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Iran over protests over her death. File Debbie Hill UPI Photo | License photo
April 24 (UPI) — The United States announced new sanctions on Iran on Monday, along with similar penalties imposed by Britain and the European Union over the country’s morality police and its actions after the death of Mahsa Jina Amini last year.
The US announcement punishes Iran’s law enforcement forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for protests that began in 2022. suppression in September after Amini’s arrest and death.
According to Iranian officials, she died while in the custody of Iran’s morality police because she was not wearing a hijab properly. The United States has also imposed sanctions on institutions responsible for Iran’s cyberspace policies and blocking popular websites.
US sanctions targeted IRGC leaders Parviz Absalan, Amanollah Goshtasbi and Ahmed Khadem Seyedoshohad, as well as law enforcement leader Salman Adinehvand and Supreme Council cyber leader Seyyed Mohammad Amin Aghamiri.
“The people of Iran deserve freedom of expression without the threat of violent retaliation and censorship from those in power,” said Brian E. Nelson, the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “Along with our key allies and partners like the United Kingdom, the United States will continue to take action against those responsible for the regime’s violent repression and censorship.”
sanctions named by the British Mohammad Nazar Azimi: IRGC commander responsible for quelling protests in Kermanshah province; Habib Shahsavari, Head of the IRGC in West Azerbaijan Province; Mohsen Karimi, Commander of Markazi Province; and Ahmad Kadem: commander of the IRGC’s operational base in Karbala.
The British government said they all led the crackdown that killed peaceful protesters.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Iran must be held responsible on the international stage for its crackdown on demonstrators, which has resulted in human rights abuses and deaths around the world.
“That’s why we have over 300 sanctions on Iran, including the entire IRGC,” Cleverly said in a statement. “The UK and our international partners are making it clear again today that we will not be spared the regime’s brutal oppression.” We will continue to take various steps to hold the regime accountable for its actions.”
