Action Targets the Iranian
Regime’s Continued Human Rights Abuses, WMD Proliferation, and Support
for Terrorism
WASHINGTON – The
U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced a set of targeted sanctions against
17 individuals and entities related to the Iranian government’s human rights
abuses, its support of terrorism, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC). These designations are part of
the United States government’s commitment to intensify sanctions against the Iranian
government so long as it refuses to address in a meaningful and productive way the
international community’s concerns about its nuclear program as well as the
Iranian government’s continued abuse of human rights and support for
terrorism. Today’s actions coincide with
amendments to the Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR Part 561, which
further strengthen financial sanctions against the Iranian government and fulfill
a number of requirements set forth in the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human
Rights Act of 2012 (TRA), which was signed into law by the President on August
10, 2012.
“Today’s designations further
demonstrate our resolve to put a stop to the Iranian regime’s continued efforts to deny the Iranian people access
to information and the ability to speak freely,” said Under Secretary for
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “We will continue to
expose this repressive behavior, as well as Iran’s continued proliferation
activities and support to terrorists worldwide.”
Today’s actions are being taken under three different
Executive Orders (E.O.). Any property or
interests in property in the United States or in the possession or control of
U.S. persons in which the designated entities or individuals have an interest
are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in
transactions with them.
The first set of designations is being taken pursuant to
E.O. 13628, which implements the TRA by sanctioning individuals and entities who
have engaged in censorship or other activities with respect to Iran on or after
June 12, 2009, that prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of
expression or assembly by citizens of Iran, or that limit access to print or
broadcast media. These sanctions target
those in Iran who restrict or deny the free flow of information to or from the
Iranian people, and who limit or prohibit the exercise of freedoms of
expression or assembly. These
designations include, Reza Taghipour the Minister of Communications and
Information Technology, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance as well as
a number of officials and other entities involved in the Iranian regime’s
ongoing attempts to repress and silence Iran’s people.
The second set of actions is being taken pursuant to E.O.
13224, which target terrorists and supporters of terrorism around the
world. These sanctions further expose
the nefarious activities of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force
(IRGC-QF) as it coordinates terrorist operations in the region, particularly by
supporting Kata'ib Hizballah (KH) officials who operate out of Iran and
Iraq. KH, which was listed as a Foreign
Terrorist Organization by the U.S. Department of State in June 2009, has
conducted attacks against Iraqi, U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq and
continues to act as a destabilizing force in Iraq and the region.
The final set of actions today is being taken pursuant to
E.O. 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and
their support networks. Today’s action
targets the support network of Iran’s IRGC, which was designated by the U.S.
Department of State in October 2007 for having engaged, or attempted to engage,
in proliferation related activities. The
IRGC is a powerful actor in Iran’s economy, dominating the energy,
construction, banking and other key sectors.
Today’s designations include two IRGC-linked universities and companies,
including the National Iranian Oil Company, which was determined by the U.S.
Treasury Department in September 2012 to be an agent or affiliate of the IRGC. These
entities are being designated for the important technological and commercial
support they provide to the IRGC.
For more information
on today’s designations, please see the fact sheet: fact sheet.
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