The United States Imposes New Human Rights Sanctions Against Iranian Institutions and Officials

The United States has imposed new sanctions on 12 officials of the Islamic Republic in relation to human rights violations and the violent repression of the people of Iran. The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC) announced on Wednesday, September 19, that these sanctions, which are linked to the 'ongoing and violent repression of the people of Iran' by the Islamic Republic 'both inside and outside the borders of Iran,' target members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, officials of the Iranian prison system, and individuals responsible for carrying out deadly operations abroad. The Treasury Department's statement noted that these sanctions are coordinated with Canada and Australia, which have also announced new sanctions against individuals linked to 'human rights violations in Iran.' According to the statement, Bradley Smith, the acting deputy secretary of the U.S. Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, highlighted the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the so-called moral security police of the Islamic Republic, stating: 'Despite the peaceful requests of the people of Iran for reforms, the leaders of the [Islamic Republic] have intensified the use of outdated tactics of violence and regime pressure.' This Treasury official further emphasized that the United States, along with its allies and partners, will continue to take necessary actions to expose and hold accountable those responsible for the oppressive programs of the Iranian regime. According to this statement, these sanctions are imposed under Executive Order 13553 and target 'specific individuals in connection with human rights violations by the Iranian government.' The sanctioned individuals include Ali Abdi, head of the prisons organization in South Khorasan province; Alireza Babaei Farsani, head of the prisons organization in Isfahan province; Ahmadreza Azadeh, head of Sepidar prison in Ahvaz in 2019 and 2020; Gholamreza Roushan, head of the prisons organization in Khuzestan province; Yahya Hosseini Panjaki, deputy of internal security at the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic; Javad Ghafari Hadadi (Ghafari), deputy of special operations at the IRGC intelligence organization; Hamid Zarei Kajousangi (also known by the surnames Zarati and Zarei), a commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; and Mahmoud Baghlani, a member of the IRGC. Some sources have identified Ahmadreza (Afshin) Azadeh, head of Sepidar prison in Ahvaz, as one of the officials who plays a key role in the repression and torture of prisoners, having previously managed the prisons of Dezful and Behbahan and served as deputy of the former Karoun prison in Ahvaz. Gholamreza Roushan is also among the officials who have played a role in suppressing unrest in Ramhormoz prison in Khuzestan province. The White House: More sanctions against the Islamic Republic will be imposed under the supplemental national security budget law. The Mahsa Law was enacted with the signature of the U.S. President. The U.S. has sanctioned two companies and four individuals in relation to the cyber operations of the Islamic Republic. The European Union has agreed to expand sanctions against the Islamic Republic; Israel: This is just the beginning. The UK has imposed new sanctions against the Islamic Republic in coordination with the United States. New sanctions against the Islamic Republic's drone program; Biden: The U.S. is committed to Israel's security. A letter from 134 members of the British Parliament to Rishi Sunak: The IRGC should be recognized as a terrorist organization. The U.S. has announced cooperation with allies to design a 'unified strategy' in response to the actions of the Islamic Republic.