The United States on Thursday announced economic sanctions against seven senior Iranian officials for their role in the deadly crackdown on protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, "the regime's key instrument in repression", and Communications Minister Issa Zarepour, "responsible for the shameful attempt to block the internet" are among those sanctioned, according to a press release from the Department of Treasure.
Senior officials of the security services are also targeted by these sanctions which freeze their assets in the United States and complicate their access to the international financial system.
"The United States condemns the Iranian government's internet blockage and violent crackdown on peaceful protests and will not hesitate to target those who direct and support these actions," said Under Secretary of the Treasury Brian Nelson. quoted in the press release.
Washington had already announced on September 22 a salvo of sanctions targeting the Iranian morality police and several security officials.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden announced that new sanctions would be taken within the week.
Tehran had castigated his “hypocrisy”.
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died on September 16 three days after her arrest for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code, which notably requires women to wear the veil.
His death sparked a wave of protests in Iran and solidarity rallies across the world.
At least 92 people have been killed in Iran since the protests began, according to the Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights, while authorities put the death toll at around 60, including 12 members of the security forces.
More than a thousand people have been arrested and more than 620 released in Tehran province alone, according to authorities.
World
Iran protests: At least 82 dead in crackdown in Zahedan, Amnesty International says
World
Protests in Iran: Teenage girls also remove the veil and defy repression
World
Iran
Tehran
UNITED STATES
Joe Biden
Demonstration
Sanction