US sanctions Larijani and Iranian officials for suppressing protests
In a further escalation reflecting the continued tension in relations between Washington and Tehran, the United States announced on Thursday a new package of economic sanctions targeting a broad network of Iranian security officials and banking entities. These punitive measures come as a direct and firm response to what the US administration described as the systematic repression of popular protests in the Islamic Republic.
Targeting symbols of the Iranian regime
According to a statement issued by the US Treasury Department, the sanctions targeted not only field commanders but also high-ranking political and security figures, most notably the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani. Larijani is a pivotal figure in the Iranian political system, having previously served as Speaker of Parliament for many years. His inclusion on the sanctions list sends a strong political message from Washington that accountability will extend to the highest levels of power in Tehran.
Commenting on the decision, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that "the United States stands firmly with the Iranian people in their demands for freedom and justice," stressing that these sanctions aim to dry up the financial resources used by the security services to fund repression against unarmed protesters.
A unified international stance and warnings from the G7
Washington was not alone in this stance, as the international community demonstrated a clear alignment against human rights abuses. The foreign ministers of the G7 countries—Germany, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom—along with the United States and the European Union, issued a strongly worded joint statement.
The group expressed its readiness to impose "additional restrictive measures" should Tehran continue its violent security approach. A statement issued by France, the current chair of the bloc, read: "We are deeply concerned by reports of a large number of deaths and injuries, and we strongly condemn the deliberate use of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics employed by security forces against citizens.".
Human rights reports document "mass killings"
On the human rights front, Amnesty International has provided harrowing documentation of the ongoing events. In a report released on Wednesday, the organization accused Iranian authorities of carrying out unlawful "mass killings" on an "unprecedented scale." The report was based on a detailed analysis of video footage and eyewitness accounts from the scene.
The London-based organization explained that security forces used excessive force systematically, stating: "Security forces stationed in the streets and on the roofs of residential buildings and mosques repeatedly fired live ammunition and metal balls, directly targeting protesters in vital areas of their bodies.".
General context and repercussions of sanctions
These developments come at a time when Iran is suffering from a severe economic crisis, and these new sanctions are expected to further pressure the local currency (the Iranian rial) and isolate the Iranian financial system from the global economy. Observers believe that targeting figures of Larijani's stature closes the door to any near-term diplomatic solutions and confirms that the United States and its allies are continuing their "maximum pressure" campaign to force Tehran to change its domestic and regional behavior.
