WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is imposing a new round of sanctions on Iranian officials accused of repressing nationwide protests challenging Iran’s government, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
Included in Thursday’s sanctions is the secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security, whom Treasury accuses of being among the first officials to call for violence against Iranian protesters. Treasury also designated 18 people and companies that it said have participated in laundering money from sales of Iranian oil to foreign markets as part of a shadow banking network of sanctioned Iranian financial institutions, including Bank Melli and Shahr Bank.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. “stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice.” He added that Treasury “will use every tool to target those behind the regime’s tyrannical oppression of human rights.”
The demonstrations in Iran began Dec. 28, after the collapse of the Iranian rial. The protests have taken place as the country’s economy has been squeezed in part by international sanctions imposed in connection with Iran’s nuclear program.
During an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report with Bret Baier” on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the protests began peacefully and that the government engaged with protesters and their leaders. Araghchi said that after the 10th day of demonstrations, “terrorist elements led from outside” appeared and made the protests turn violent.
The sanctions arrive after President Donald Trump reimposed a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran in February, an effort described as aimed at blocking development of nuclear weapons. The campaign included U.S.-led strikes on three critical Iranian enrichment facilities.
The sanctions deny targeted people and firms access to any property or financial assets held in the U.S., and they prevent U.S. companies and citizens from doing business with them. The measures were described as largely symbolic because many of the designated individuals and companies do not hold funds with U.S. institutions.