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US Sanctions 8 Iranian Officials for Rights Abuses

   VOA News 29 September 2010
   In  this photo released by the semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency,
   Iranian  Revolutionary  Guard  commander  Mohammad Ali Jafari, center,
   monitors maneuvers by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, near the

Photo: AP

   In  this photo released by the semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency,
   Iranian  Revolutionary  Guard  commander  Mohammad Ali Jafari, center,
   monitors maneuvers by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, near the Strait
   of Hormuz, 24 Apr 2010

   U.S.  President Barack Obama has signed an [1]order imposing sanctions
   on  eight Iranian officials accused of rights violations following the
   country's disputed 2009 presidential election.
   Secretary  of  State  Hillary  Clinton announced the action Wednesday,
   saying  a "steady deterioration" of rights conditions in Iran prompted
   the  U.S.  to  take  actions  that  she  said  "correspond to our deep
   concern."
   The  list of individuals being targeted includes Iranian Revolutionary
   Guard Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari.  The order says forces under his
   command  participated  in  "beatings, murder and arbitrary arrests" of
   peaceful   protesters   following   President   Mahmoud  Ahmadinejad's
   re-election in June of last year.
   Other  officials  include  former Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli and
   former Intelligence Minister Qolam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.
   The  order  bans  Americans  from  doing  business  with  any  of  the
   individuals included on the list.
   Clinton  said  this  is  the  first time the United States has imposed
   sanctions against Iran for human rights abuses.
   Previous  U.S.  sanctions  on Iran have targeted the country's nuclear
   activities.
   U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, appearing alongside Clinton,
   said   targeting   individuals,   rather   than  imposing  broad-based
   sanctions, can be very effective.
   Geithner  said banks and governments around the world often respond by
   cutting  off  their dealings with targeted individuals, and that there
   are  already  indications  Iran is concerned about the implications of
   this trend.
   He  also  said  the targeted sanctions help the United States to avoid
   hurting  the  Iranian  people,  while trying to pressure the country's
   leadership.
   The  other  Iranian  officials  are  former  Prosecutor  General Saeed
   Mortazavi,  Intelligence  Minister  Heydar Moslehi and Deputy Security
   Commander  Mostafa  Mohammad  Najjar.   The  U.S.  also  has targeted
   National Police deputy chief Ahmad-Reza Radan and Revolutionary Guards
   Deputy Intelligence Commander Hossein Taeb.

References

   1. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/09/29/statement-new-executive-order-designating-iranian-officials-responsible-

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