Washington: The United States has imposed sanctions on five senior officials, including Ali Larijani, for their role in the violence against protesters during the recent riots and demonstrations, and has warned that it is tracking the Iranian leadership’s funds, which are being transferred to banks around the world.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement that five officials involved in the crackdown on protesters in Iran have been sanctioned, including commanders of the Supreme Council for National Security, the Revolutionary Guards and law enforcement agencies, and that they were directly involved in the crackdown.
Those affected by the US sanctions include Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security Ali Larijani and other security commanders Mohammad Reza Hashemifar, Nematollah Bagheri, Azizollah Maliki and Yadollah Bouali.
According to the report, the US sanctions also include 18 individuals and entities from Iran’s shadow banking network, and front companies based in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Singapore are also on the sanctions list.
The US Treasury Department has accused the individuals of being involved in money laundering, along with a shadow banking network, to hide the proceeds from the sale of Iranian oil and petrochemical products in foreign markets.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said in a video message that the US has a clear message to Iran’s leaders that the US Treasury Department knows that, like rats fleeing a sinking ship, you are panicking and transferring money stolen from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around the world.
He said, “Rest assured, we will track him and you, but there is little time for that. If you choose to join us, as President Trump said, stop the rioting and stand with the Iranian people.”
The US Treasury Secretary said that the United States fully stands with the Iranian people’s voice for freedom and justice, and the Treasury Department will use every means possible to target the elements behind the Iranian government’s brutal human rights abuses.
It should be noted that these sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran are the first step after Donald Trump’s threats to maintain pressure on Iran.