On Friday, President Joe Biden pledged support for Iranians one year after Mahsa Amini’s death, as the US unveiled fresh sanctions against human rights violators following an agreement to release five detained US citizens.
President Joe Biden said Friday that the United States would support Iranians a year after the death of Mahsa Amini sparked mass protests, as Washington unveiled fresh sanctions against “egregious” rights abusers.
Biden said in a statement “Today, as we remember Mahsa’s tragic death, we reaffirm our commitment to the courageous people of Iran who are carrying on her mission.”
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died on September 16 last year after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.
Her death triggered months of nationwide demonstrations under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”.
The US Treasury Department said it had added 25 Iranian officials, three media outlets, and a research firm to its sanctions blacklist, saying all were linked to Tehran’s suppression of protests after Amini’s death.
Most were regional commanders of the national police force and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Also sanctioned was Gholamali Mohammadi, the head of Iran’s Prisons Organization, who the Treasury said presides over serious human rights abuses including torture and rape.
The sanctions come after the US and Iran reached a deal to release five detained US citizens in exchange for the unfreezing of $6 billion of Iranian funds.
The US citizens are expected to be released next week.
Katrine Dige Houmøller, with AFP
