Washington has updated its sanctions list, adding the name of Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, along with a number of high-profile officials. The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced these measures in response to the brutal suppression of mass protests that began in Iran in late December 2025.
Scott Bessen, head of the U.S. Treasury, noted that President Donald Trump's directive requires the U.S. to use all available tools to combat human rights violations and block financial flows related to Iranian leaders. According to U.S. authorities, it was Larijani who coordinated the actions of the security forces, representing the interests of the Supreme Leader, and openly called for repression against peaceful citizens.
The official statement from the department mentions instances of excessive use of force, including the use of firearms against protesters. For example, in Ilam Province, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted raids in medical facilities, employing special means in hospital wards.
Additionally, the leaders of the security forces from Fars and Lorestan provinces have been sanctioned for organizing the killings of peaceful demonstrators and concealing the true circumstances of their deaths. In particular, in the city of Asna, intelligence services pressured the families of the deceased, forcing them to portray their relatives as government supporters. Hospitals in Shiraz are also in critical condition, overwhelmed with casualties.
The new sanctions include the freezing of all assets of the specified individuals within the United States and prohibit American citizens and companies from conducting any financial transactions with them. Washington continues to intensify pressure on those who organize repression, aiming to deprive them of access to international financial systems.
