Iran's Destabilizing Activities 'Should Alarm Entire World', U.S. Says As It Slaps New Sanctions

The U.S. and its allies on Monday imposed new sanctions on Iran in the latest effort to pressure Tehran’s Islamist rulers as they face lingering domestic unrest, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We are united with our allies and partners in the need to confront Iran’s leadership for its human rights abuses and destabilizing activities, which should alarm the entire world," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told a daily press briefing.

The latest sanctions target a foundation linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, 5 of its board members, 4 senior IRGC commanders and Iran’s deputy minister of intelligence and security. The action was coordinated with Britain and the European Union.

"We are sending a very clear message to the Iranian regime – two messages, really: that the world is watching, and the world is prepared to take action in response to the violence that Iranian officials are perpetrating against their own people," Price said.

"If Iran continues to engage in these human rights abuses, we will continue to apply even more pressure on Iran. But of course, this is about human rights," he added. It’s the ninth round of U.S. sanctions related to Iran’s oppression of protesters. "

Price went on to add, "We have other concerns with this regime, and we are going to use every relevant and appropriate authority to hold it account on the various fronts, from human rights to its provision of UAV technology to Russia, to the challenges that are posed by its nuclear program, to its support for terrorist groups and proxies as well."

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.