US imposes new Iran sanctions over suppression of protests

ISTANBUL

The US announced new sanctions on Iran on Monday, targeting officials involved in the suppression of recent mass protests.

The sanctions that the Treasury Department announced in coordination with the UK and EU, include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation and five of its board members, the deputy minister of intelligence and security, and four senior IRGC commanders.

"The United States remains committed to supporting the Iranian people in their demands for human rights and other fundamental freedoms," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement. "Along with our partners, we will continue to hold the Iranian regime accountable so long as it relies upon violence, sham trials, the execution of protestors, and other means of suppressing its people."

The latest sanctions are the ninth round of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control designations targeting Iranian actors since nationwide protests began last year.

Iran has been rocked by mass protests since September following the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody.

Thousands of people have been detained, according to human rights groups, while Iranian authorities said 200 people have died in the unrest.

Last month, the EU imposed sanctions on 24 Iranian officials and five organizations in response to the Iranian crackdown on the protests.