(NewsNation) — The Trump administration on Thursday announced additional sanctions against Iranian officials accused in a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, as well as an alleged shadow banking network.
Among the security officials mentioned is Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security, whom the Treasury Department accuses of being one of the first officials to “call for violence in response to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people.”
The Treasury Department also designated 18 people and entities accused of laundering proceeds from Iranian oil sales to foreign markets through shadow banking networks of the sanctioned Iranian financial institutions Bank Melli and Shahr Bank.
Shadow banking refers to financial activities and institutions that act like banks but operate outside the regulations of the traditional banking system.
The sanctions block individuals and entities from accessing any property or financial assets held in the United States and prevent U.S. companies and citizens from doing business with them.
“The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “Treasury will use every tool to target those behind the regime’s tyrannical oppression of human rights.”
The protests in Iran began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency as the country’s economy has been squeezed by international sanctions levied in part over its nuclear program. So far, at least 2,600 people have been killed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.