U.S. Support for the People of Iran on the Second Anniversary of Mahsa Amini's Death; New Sanctions Against the Government to Be Imposed

The Deputy Special Representative of the U.S. Department of State for Iran stated that human rights and support for the people are the 'core' of the U.S. approach towards Iran, and Washington will continue to hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its destabilizing behaviors both domestically and internationally. Abram Paley made this statement on Sunday evening, September 16, U.S. time, in a social media post commemorating the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death while in the custody of the Islamic Republic's morality police. He noted that Mahsa Amini was arrested and subsequently killed for not adhering to the government's hijab requirements. This senior U.S. official mentioned that the Islamic Republic responded to protests following Mahsa Amini's death, which were part of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, with a brutal campaign that included widespread arrests, sexual violence, forced confessions, torture, and executions following sham trials. Paley recalled Washington's actions in this regard, stating that the U.S. and its partners expelled the Islamic Republic from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in response to the government's actions. This U.S.-led effort made the Islamic Republic the first government to be expelled from this commission. He added that over the past year, the U.S. has imposed human rights sanctions against the Islamic Republic and has led efforts to extend the mandate of the UN fact-finding committee regarding the crackdowns in Iran to document these abuses and hold the Iranian government accountable. The protests in Iran were met with deadly repression under the orders of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. In another part of his message, the Deputy Special Representative noted that two years after Mahsa Amini's death, the Islamic Republic's repression against women, girls, and religious and ethnic minorities continues. Paley stated that the U.S. will continue to hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its egregious human rights violations, including actions that will be announced this week against the regime. He concluded by affirming that the U.S. will continue to support the people of Iran in their aspiration for a free and democratic Iran. Mahsa Amini's father praised the 'general strike' on the second anniversary of his daughter's death as a 'clear warning and message of protest' to the Islamic Republic. Empress Farah Pahlavi stated that the effort of 'religious tyranny' to eliminate the role of women in Iranian society has failed. Prince Reza Pahlavi called for the unity of Iranians against the Islamic Republic on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Iranians abroad held protests and marches in dozens of cities around the world on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. The entry of more former officials of the Islamic Republic into Canada will be banned.