WASHINGTON: The US is imposing more sanctions on Iran, hitting people and firms accused of violating women’s rights during nationwide anti-government protests over the treatment of young women and girls.
Included in the sanctions are two prison officials, several firms that manufacture equipment for Iranian law enforcement, the commander in chief of the Iranian army and others.
Secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a statement that the US government “remains deeply concerned that Iranian authorities continue to suppress dissent and peaceful protest, including through mass arrests, sham trials, hasty executions, the detention of journalists, and the use of sexual violence as a means of protest suppression.”
Leading media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday urged Iran to release Ali Pourtabatabaei, a journalist arrested after closely covering a spate of mystery poisonings of schoolgirls, saying the detention appeared to be an attempt to silence him. The spate of poisonings has affected over 5,000 pupils, mainly girls, since November, according to the authorities.
Included in the sanctions are two prison officials, several firms that manufacture equipment for Iranian law enforcement, the commander in chief of the Iranian army and others.
Secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a statement that the US government “remains deeply concerned that Iranian authorities continue to suppress dissent and peaceful protest, including through mass arrests, sham trials, hasty executions, the detention of journalists, and the use of sexual violence as a means of protest suppression.”
Leading media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday urged Iran to release Ali Pourtabatabaei, a journalist arrested after closely covering a spate of mystery poisonings of schoolgirls, saying the detention appeared to be an attempt to silence him. The spate of poisonings has affected over 5,000 pupils, mainly girls, since November, according to the authorities.