Washington DC [US], January 15 (ANI): The United States announced new sanctions on 18 key Iranian individuals and entities accused of involvement in the brutal crackdown on Iranian citizens.
“The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent on Thursday. “At the direction of President Trump, the Treasury Department is sanctioning key Iranian leaders involved in the brutal crackdown against the Iranian people. Treasury will use every tool to target those behind the regime’s tyrannical oppression of human rights.”
Among those sanctioned is Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security (SCNS). The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the 18 individuals and entities for their roles in laundering proceeds from Iranian petroleum and petrochemical sales to foreign markets through clandestine “shadow banking” networks linked to sanctioned financial institutions Bank Melli and Shahr Bank.
The Treasury statement accused Iran of economic mismanagement, noting that these funds are diverted from the Iranian people—who face crippling inflation and deficits—to finance repression and support for terrorist groups abroad.
As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States or under U.S. persons’ control are blocked. Entities owned 50 percent or more by any blocked persons are also blocked. Transactions involving these blocked persons are generally prohibited unless authorized by OFAC or exempted. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. and foreign persons.
In a video message on X, Secretary Bessent reiterated, “The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice. Treasury will use every tool to target those behind the regime’s tyrannical oppression of human rights.”
The announcement comes as protests in Iran continue, with clashes between demonstrators and security forces reportedly resulting in a death toll estimated between under 3,000 to over 12,000, according to Times of Israel. (ANI)
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