The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on two Iranian judges. "In many cases, these judges sentenced political prisoners to death," said the Treasury Department statement.
Abolghassem Salavati and Mohammad Moghisseh have had "show trials" against journalists, lawyers, political activists and members of ethnic and religious minorities who have been sentenced to long prison terms or even executed for expressing their opinions, it said. Among other things, any property and assets of judges in the United States would be frozen. US citizens are not allowed to do business with them.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned human rights violations in Iran. These are not only unacceptable, but "bad" and "wrong", he wrote on Twitter.
The Iranian regime jails and executes the Iranian people for exercising their #HumanRights. We've heard their stories. We've seen their faces. They will not be forgotten. Iran's abuse of human rights is worse than unacceptable: It's evil and it's wrong.
- Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 19, 2019The US and Iran have long been in a serious political conflict. Washington is putting pressure on Iran, particularly with economic sanctions, to force the country to change course on its nuclear program. Americans also accuse Iranians of promoting terrorism in the Middle East. In recent months, the conflict between the two countries has been on the brink of military escalation several times.