The sanctions list of the United States against Iran has been expanded with new names, including the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani and several high-ranking representatives of the security forces. The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced these measures in response to the violent suppression of protests that began erupting in the country in late December 2025.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen noted that the sanctions were imposed at the direction of President Donald Trump, who called for using all available means to combat human rights violations and prevent financial flows associated with the Iranian elite. According to American authorities, it was Larijani who coordinated the actions of the security forces at the behest of the Supreme Leader, actively calling for harsh measures against citizens.
The Treasury's press release mentions instances of excessive use of force, including the use of firearms against peaceful demonstrators. In particular, it describes events in the Ilam province, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted raids even in medical facilities, using special equipment within hospital premises.
In addition to Larijani, regional leaders of the security forces operating in the provinces of Fars and Lorestan have also been sanctioned. They are accused of organizing the killings of peaceful protesters and attempting to conceal the true circumstances of their deaths. An example is given of a case in the city of Asna, where security services pressured the families of the deceased, demanding that they present them as supporters of the authorities. There are also reports of a critical situation in Shiraz hospitals, which are overcrowded with the injured.
The imposed sanctions entail the blocking of all assets of the specified individuals within U.S. jurisdiction, as well as a ban on any financial transactions with them for American citizens and companies. Thus, Washington seeks to increase pressure on the organizers of the repression and exclude them from the international financial system.
