WASHINGTON — The United States stepped up pressure against Iran’s government on Wednesday, slapping financial and travel sanctions on eight Iranian officials and accusing them of taking part in rampant human rights abuses. Under an executive order signed this week by President Barack Obama, the State and Treasury departments jointly announced the sanctions that target Iranians who “share responsibility for the sustained and severe violation of human rights in Iran,” notably after last year’s disputed presidential elections.
At a State Department news conference, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said it was the first time the United States has imposed sanctions on Iranians for violating human rights. The step adds another layer to already heavy U.S. sanctions on Iran, which in the past have been imposed over the countryÂ’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
| None of which seems to have stopped Short Round and the Mad Mullahs™. |
The move bars the eight Iranians from entering the United States, blocks any of their U.S. assets and prohibits Americans from doing business with them.
| Which we weren't supposed to be doing anyways ... |
Although none of the eight is believed to have substantial assets in U.S. jurisdictions, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he expects foreign financial institutions to stop doing business with them.
“We have found that then we single out individuals and expose their conduct, banks, businesses and governments around the world respond by cutting off their economic and financial dealings with these individuals, these institutions, these businesses,” Geithner said.
Among the eight Iranians targeted Wednesday is Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of IranÂ’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and one his top deputies, Hossein Taeb. Jafari is already subject to U.S. sanctions related to IranÂ’s nuclear program.
| Now he's under double-secret probation ... |
The administration said that forces under the command of Jafari and Taeb participated in beatings, murder and arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters in the aftermath of the June 2009 Iranian election.
Also named were Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi, four current and former police chiefs and prosecutors, and Sadeq Mahsouli, currently IranÂ’s minister of welfare and social security. Mahsouli was minister of the interior at the time of the June 2009 election, and in that role had authority over all police forces and Interior Ministry security agents, the administrationÂ’s announcement said.
“His forces were responsible for attacks on the dormitories of Tehran University on June 15, 2009, during which students were severely beaten and detained,” the joint Treasury and State statement said. |