Washington has decided to expand the sanctions list concerning Iran, which now includes the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, as well as several high-ranking officials. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, these measures were introduced in response to the violent suppression of mass protests that began in the country in late December 2025.
Scott Bessen, the head of the U.S. Treasury, noted that the actions are being taken at the direction of President Donald Trump, aimed at protecting human rights and blocking financial flows associated with the Iranian elite. According to information from American sources, Larijani played a key role in coordinating the actions of the security forces at the direction of the Supreme Leader and openly called for harsh measures against peaceful demonstrators.
The official press release from the department mentions instances of excessive use of force, including cases of firearms being used against protesters. In particular, it refers to events in Ilam province, where units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted operations even in medical facilities, using special means in hospitals.
In addition to Larijani, regional leaders of the security forces from Fars and Lorestan provinces have also been sanctioned, accused of organizing the killings of peaceful protesters and attempting to conceal the true circumstances of their deaths. An example is given of an incident in Asna, where security services pressured the families of the deceased, demanding they present them as government supporters. Furthermore, there are reports of a critical situation in Shiraz hospitals, which are overwhelmed with the wounded.
The imposed sanctions include the blocking of the assets of the specified individuals within the United States, as well as a ban on any financial transactions with them for American citizens and companies. Thus, Washington aims to increase pressure on the organizers of the repression and deprive them of access to international financial systems.
