The United States and Britain have announced new sanctions against Iran on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, the Kurdish Iranian woman whose custody death sparked nationwide protests. The 22-year-old died on 16 September last year after being arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's mandatory dress code.
Her death triggered months of anti-government demonstrations, the largest wave of dissent in Iran in years, which were met with widespread and often violent suppression by Iranian security forces. In anticipation of possible unrest this weekend, security forces have been deployed in Amini's home town.
The US Treasury Department said it was sanctioning more than two dozen individuals and entities connected to the crackdown, including 18 key members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran's Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), as well as the head of Iran's Prisons Organisation. Sanctions also target officials linked to Iran's internet blockade and several state-controlled media outlets, including Press TV, Tasnim News Agency and Fars News.
Britain separately announced sanctions aimed at senior Iranian decision makers enforcing the mandatory hijab law, including the minister for culture and Islamic guidance, his deputy, the mayor of Tehran and an Iranian police spokesperson.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Mahsa's death had sparked demonstrations that were met with 'unspeakable violence, mass arrests, systemic internet disruptions and censorship'. He added that Canada, Australia and other partners were also imposing sanctions this week, and that the US would continue to take action against those suppressing human rights in Iran.
