Photo taken on May 15, 2020 shows the US Treasury Department building in Washington DC, the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)
A total of seven senior Iranian officials have been designated by the Finance Ministry’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for sanctions, including Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, Communications Minister Eisa Zarepour, and five officials from the top leadership of Iran’s security services to the Finance Ministry’s statement.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) — The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions against Iranian leaders over their role in shutting down internet access in the country and enacting other “violent” measures to quell ongoing domestic protests, which were triggered by the death of a young girl.
A total of seven senior Iranian officials have been designated by the Finance Ministry’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for sanctions, including Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, Communications Minister Eisa Zarepour, and five officials from the top leadership of Iran’s security services to the Finance Ministry’s statement.
“As a result of today’s action, all assets and property interests of these persons that are in the United States or are owned or controlled by US persons must be frozen and reported to OFAC,” the statement said. “Furthermore, any business that is directly or indirectly 50 percent or more owned by one or more blocked individuals will also be blocked.”
The US sanctions came after the death of 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini last month. Amini died in the custody of Iran’s Morality Police, who said she was improperly wearing the Islamic headscarf known as the hijab.
Amini’s death sparked nationwide protests in Iran, where women were seen unveiling and burning.
Nasser Kanaani, spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, accused the US of “long-term attempts to undermine Iran’s stability and security”. ■
