Washington, February 24: The United States has imposed sanctions against two top Iranian officials over allegations of human rights abuse during the 2009 post-election unrest in Iran.
The US Treasury Department slapped sanctions against Commander of Iran’s Volunteer Basij Force Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi and Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi on Thursday.
“Today’s designations highlight the complicity of two Iranian officials in significant human right abuses against the Iranian people,” Director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Adam Szubin claimed.
The measure prohibits transactions between the two Iranian officials and American entities, and freezes any assets they may have under US jurisdiction.
The aforementioned Iranian officials also cannot receive visas to enter the United States.
In February, Washington imposed sanctions on six individuals and five companies affiliated with Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).
In October 2010, the US blacklisted 37 Iranian “front companies” based in Germany, Malta and Cyprus, which are allegedly owned or controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, and the five Iranians who are the managers or directors of the firms.
Amid a standoff born out of Western allegations that Tehran is following a military nuclear program, the UN Security Council on June 9 imposed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran’s financial and military sectors.
Shortly after the imposition of the UN sanctions, the United States imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran’s financial and energy sectors.
The Islamic Republic has vehemently refuted the allegations, arguing that its nuclear program is constantly monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, to which it is a member.
The US has also pressured Japan, Canada, and Australia to impose similar unilateral sanctions on the Iran, targeting investments in energy-related industries.
The unilateral US sanctions are viewed as running contrary to international law since Iran, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, is entitled to use the peaceful applications of nuclear energy for electricity generation and medical research.
Iranian authorities have on various occasions maintained that the imposition of sanctions would only strengthen the country’s resolve to achieve further scientific and industrial progress.
——–Agencies