The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran for violating human rights

Sanctions have been imposed on senior officials and bodies involved in violent repression of protesters since 2009, despite the nuclear talks in Vienna, which continue tomorrow.

Tehran: "Washington fails to understand that 'maximum failure' and diplomatic breakthrough can not come together"

News agencies

08/12/2021

Wednesday, 08 December, 2021, 10:37 Updated: 10:42

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Violently suppressed demonstrations against the regime.

Forces in the Basij militia (Photo: AP)

The United States last night (Tuesday) imposed new sanctions on elements and bodies in Iran for "serious" human rights violations by protesters and prisoners. The sanctions imposed by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were announced ahead of the resumption of nuclear talks with Tehran tomorrow, after the last round ended last week with no real progress. Washington and Tehran accuse each other of unwillingness to make compromises and the West warns that the time to return to the nuclear deal is running out.

Sanctions were imposed on elements and bodies involved in the violent repression of the major demonstrations in Iran in 2009 and 2019, including Hassan Carmi, a special forces commander responsible for protest suppression, and the commander of the Basij militia, Golmarza Suleimani, whose forces were also involved in violent violence against protesters.

A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry said the new sanctions would not give the United States new leverage on it, and were "contrary to seriousness and goodwill."

"Washington fails to understand that 'maximum failure' and diplomatic breakthrough can not come together," tweeted spokesman Said Khatibzadeh, referring to the "maximum pressure" policy led by the previous Donald Trump administration.

In addition to sanctions on Iran, the United States has also imposed sanctions on elements in Syria and Uganda involved in human rights violations.

This is in preparation for the virtual "summit of democracy" that will host Washington during the week, and where it will try to promote the protection of human rights in the world.

"The United States is committed to promoting democracy and charging a price from those who violate human rights around the world," its Secretary of State Anthony Blinkan said in a statement.

"The United States will use all the tools at its disposal to expose and disrupt these human rights violations."

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