US imposes sanctions on some Iranian security officials

In a written statement by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), it was noted that Iran’s Moral Police Service was placed on the sanctions list for “harassment and violence against women and violations of the rights of peaceful protesters”.

“The Morality Police are responsible for the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained for allegedly wearing a headscarf inappropriately,” the statement said.

For these reasons, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, Land Forces Command, Basij Resistance Forces and Law Enforcement Forces were included in the sanctions list, as well as the Moral Police Organization of Iran. It was reported that Abnush, Deputy Chief of Police Kasım Rezai, Land Forces Commander Kyumars Heydari and Carmahal Police Chief Manuçer Amanullahi were put on the sanction list.

As part of these sanctions, US citizens will be prohibited from having any commercial relationship with these people, while their assets will be frozen by the US.

Security forces intervened in protests led by women in Iran.

On September 14, 2022, Morality Police of Iran Police Department arrested 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing a headscarf and sent her to a “training and orientation” class at the police station.

Transferred to a hospital in a coma that same day, Amini died of internal bleeding two days later.

Amini allegedly died of injuries sustained while in the custody of the Moral Police.

Iranian officials, on the other hand, claim that Amini died of heart ailment.