US slaps new sanctions on Iran, imposes visa restrictions

The United States has announced new sanctions against Iran, targeting individuals in the judicial courts and security services over the handling of the recent protests against fuel price hikes in the country.

The US Treasury said on Thursday the sanctions were imposed on two Iranian judges, Abolghassem Salavati and Mohammad Moghisseh, accusing them of punishing Iranian citizens and dual nationals for participating in the protests.

The sanctions would freeze all property of the two judges under US jurisdiction and bar Americans from dealing with them, according to the Treasury.

"The United States will not be a bystander to ongoing oppression and injustice in Iran," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement, even though the unrest was believed to be the result of Washington’s unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the State Department was also imposing visa restrictions on current and former Iranian officials complicit in what he called human rights abuses against protesters.

He did not name the officials, but said the visa restrictions would also extend to their family members.

Iran says taking measures to counter US after unrest

Iran says measures are being taken to counter US officials’ intervention in the recent unrest which was triggered by the Iranian government’s decision to hike gasoline prices.

The Iranian government raised gasoline prices on November 15 in order to moderate the national consumption rate, which stands at 110 million liters per day, 40 million liters per day above the maximum domestic requirement.

The move triggered protests that some rioters took advantage of to destroy public property and torch banks and gas stations.

The riots also marked hooligans and thugs attacking security forces with firearms, knives and other lethal weapons, leaving several people dead.

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US threatens more sanctions to provoke unrest in Iran

Following the deadly riots, access to most of the internet services in Iran was suspended based on a decision by the National Security Council of Iran.

Following the unrest, Pompeo urged Iranians to send photos and other information documenting what he called “repression,” while vowing to sanction "abuses" by the Iranian government.

"I have asked the Iranian protesters to send us their videos, photos and information documenting the regime's crackdown on protesters," Pompeo tweeted, vowing that the US will “expose and sanction the abuses."

The US-based Foreign Policy magazine has said that Washington's bid to pressure Iran with sanctions has failed to achieve its objectives and has even backfired. 

US magazine blasts US bid for 'violent revolution' in Iran

Washington

Despite the US' "enthusiasm" over recent violent riots in Iran as a "vindication" of the success of its "maximum pressure" campaign, Iran has responded in equal terms to counter Washington, the publication wrote last week. 

Washington has sought sanctions to weaken Iran's economy to an extent that may incite internal strife and topple the country's government, despite the Trump administration's "half-hearted" denial of seeking "regime change" in the country, Foreign Policy wrote.

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