The United States on Tuesday imposed new targeted sanctions on a dozen Iranian entities and officials for “gross human rights violations” in the Islamic Republic, in the midst of the resumption of crucial negotiations to save the Iran nuclear deal.
These measures target in particular special units of the security forces responsible for maintaining order (LEF) or the fight against terrorism (NOPO) for their repression of demonstrators, according to a statement from the US Treasury.
Prisons targeted for executing prisoners
These two entities are accused of having committed or ordered, “on behalf of the Iranian government”, “serious human rights violations against people in Iran or Iranian citizens or residents, or members of their families,” says the Treasury. . Those responsible include Hassan Karami, the commander of the LEF special units, and Mohsen Ebrahimi, the commander of the NOPO. The Iranian prisons of Zahedan and Isfahan are also targeted according to the American authorities, because prisoners have been executed there.
The US Treasury “will continue to fight authoritarianism” and promote “holding individuals to account for the violent repression of those seeking to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms,” said the director of the Oversight Office. of foreign assets (OFAC), Andrea Gacki, in the press release.
Nuclear talks would resume on Thursday
These sanctions come on top of an already tight web of measures targeting Iran, even as indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington resumed last week in Vienna in an attempt to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, after a five-month suspension.
These talks, again on hiatus since Friday, could resume Thursday, according to the Iranian negotiator. A senior US official has not confirmed the date at this point. Both the United States and the Europeans criticize the Iranian government for not being serious since talks resumed last week.
A virtual summit will take place Thursday and Friday
Tuesday’s sanctions come in the run-up to the virtual summit for democracy that US President Joe Biden is organizing on Thursday and Friday. “The United States is determined to use all the tools at its disposal to counter serious human rights violations and repression around the world,” the US foreign minister said in a statement.
In addition to Iran, sanctions also target Syrians, including two Air Force generals, Taoufik Mouhammad Khadour and Mouhammad Youssef al-Hasouri, accused by the Treasury of being responsible for chemical attacks that killed people. many civilians in 2017 and 2018. Finally, a Ugandan military intelligence chief, General Abel Kandiho, is also affected by these measures. People arrested by its services “suffered horrific beatings and other monstrous acts”, “including sexual abuse and electrocution, often causing lasting injuries and sometimes death,” the Treasury wrote.
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