The US government imposes sanctions on morality police and top security officials after the death of a young woman in Iran.

The morality police are responsible for violence against Iranian women and violating the rights of peaceful protesters, the US Treasury Department said on Thursday.

High-ranking executives from various security organizations in the country are also affected by the measures, including the head of the moral police.

These officials oversee organizations that routinely use violence to repress peaceful protesters and members of Iranian civil society, according to the ministry.

Several people have died in recent protests and riots in dozens of Iranian cities.

Both security forces and demonstrators were among the victims, state television reported.

The protests were triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in Iranian police custody.

She was arrested by the Morality Police just over a week ago for violating the strict Islamic dress code.

What exactly happened to Amini after her arrest is unclear.

She fell into a coma and died in a hospital on Friday.

"The US government strongly condemns this "ruthless act" and calls on the Iranian government to end violence against women and the ongoing violent repression of freedom of expression and assembly," said US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

As a result of the sanctions, any possessions of those affected in the USA will be frozen, and US citizens will be prohibited from doing business with them.

Meanwhile, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi caused a stir during his visit to New York when he refused to attend an interview because a CNN journalist refused to wear a headscarf.

“After weeks of planning and eight hours of setting up translation equipment, lights and cameras, we were ready.

But no sign of President Raisi,” wrote journalist Christiane Amanpour on Twitter on Thursday.

“A counselor came to me 40 minutes after the scheduled start of the interview.

The President, he said, suggested I wear a hijab,” Amanpour continued.

"I politely declined.

We are in New York, where there are no laws or traditions regarding headscarves.

I pointed out that no previous Iranian President has requested this when I have interviewed him outside of Iran.” President Raisi has traveled to the US for the first time since he took office.

There he spoke on Wednesday before the UN General Assembly.