President Joe Biden marked the anniversary Friday of the Iranian woman who died while being held by the country's morality police by announcing the US will impose more sanctions on Iranian people and firms that will target “some of Iran’s most egregious human rights abusers.”
Mahsa Amini had been detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely in violation of laws that require women in public to wear the Islamic headscarf. The 22-year-old died three days later in police custody.
Biden said the US reaffirms its “commitment to the courageous people of Iran who are carrying on her mission.”
“They are inspiring the world with their resilience and resolve. And together with our allies and partners, we stand with them.”
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday listed 29 people and organizations in connection with Amini's death, including members of the government's security forces, the head of Iran’s Prisons Organization and three regime-controlled media outlets –– Fars News, Tasnim News and Press TV, among others.
In addition, the State Department imposed visa restrictions on 13 Iranian officials and others for their involvement in killing or detaining peaceful protesters or censoring them via a country-wide internet shutdown in Iran.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would designate 25 Iranian people, three state-backed media outlets, and an internet research firm in connection with the Iranian regime’s suppression of nationwide protests. Taken in coordination with the UK, Canada, Australia, and other nations, this is the United States' 13th round of sanctions designations in response to Iran’s crackdown on protests.
“We will continue to take appropriate action, alongside our international partners, to hold accountable those who suppress Iranians’ exercise of human rights,” Blinken said.
Iranian authorities said Amini had a heart attack. Her family has disputed that, leading to the public protests that spread across the country for months.
The US has already sanctioned over 70 Iranian people and entities “responsible for supporting the regime’s oppression of its people," Biden said.
