Since taking office, President Biden’s United States has taken a new round of sanctions targeting Iran. These steps aim at political and security officials who have violently cracked down on anti-government protests. Indeed, tensions between the two nations are rising. In 1980, former president Donald Trump’s predecessor, then-president Jimmy Carter threatened a military intervention in response to Iranian activity.
Last week, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on a network of 18 people and companies involved in Iran’s energy export apparatus. One of those in the crosshairs is former speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani. The former secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), he is a close adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The measures essentially freeze all assets of such individuals in the United States. Further, they keep American citizens from engaging in any business activity with these people.
These penalties are indicative of the US ratcheting up in support of Iran’s current protestors. The sanctions are largely symbolic given the existing heavy sanctions against Iran, but they underscore a commitment to supporting the Iranian people’s calls for freedom and justice.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice.” The sanctions are part of a more general goal to cut Tehran’s oil revenue and economic stability.
President Trump announced these new actions after welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Florida. At the start of their meeting, he delivered a robust denunciation of the Iranian regime. In October 2019, Trump encouraged Iranians to take control of state institutions. He reiterated the need to hold accountable those who used violence against peaceful protesters. He stated, “They [Iranian officials] said people were shooting at them with guns, and they were shooting back.”
In the post, he sent a clear warning to Iranian leaders. He said he was hopeful that no executions would come due to the unrest. This is something he got assurances from Iranian officials on.
Trump orders the Treasury Department to punish human rights abusers in Iran. They are committed to using all tools at their disposal to ensure these people are held accountable.
Tensions are dramatically increasing, sparing for US administration to announce new sanctions so far. This action underlines an important trend in their long-term efforts to address threats to democracy and human rights in Iran. The situation is still very much developing as both countries stare down the consequences of these newfound changes.
