U.S. Hits Iran's Former President, Intel Ministry and Prison Officials With Fresh Sanctions

Washington D.C./19.09.23/Turan:  The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Iran's former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country's intelligence ministry, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

The sanctions, formally announced after the two countries agreed to a detainee swap, were issued under the Levinson Act, a 2020 law named for the retired FBI agent, Robert Levinson, who is believed to have died in Iran’s custody. It targets those responsible for holding U.S. nationals hostage.

Ahmadinejad was targeted for having provided support to Iran's Intelligence and Security Ministry (MOIS), which was also designated for its involvement in the hostage-taking or wrongful detention of US citizens.

"During Ahmadinejad’s term in office, Iran’s MOIS abducted and detained Bob Levinson with authorization by senior Iranian officials. The regime’s refusal to account for what happened to Bob caused unbearable pain and suffering to his family and those who care about him," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"We call on Iran to give a full accounting of what happened to Bob Levinson, from his initial captivity to his probable death," he added.

MOIS was also involved in the detentions of hikers Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal and Sara Shourd during Mr Ahmadenijad's term in office, from 2005-2013. White the three hikers were eventually released, Levinson remains missing and is presumed dead.

Blinken in his statement also announced additional visa restrictions on three Iranian government officials believed to be responsible for or complicit in serious abuses or violations of human rights, as well as hostage-taking or wrongful, arbitrary, or otherwise unjust detention of U.S. and foreign nationals.

"We are further announcing the designation of Iranian prison officials Ali Chaharmahali and Dariush Bakshi... for their involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely the cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of detainees in Iran’s prison system," Blinken noted.  "These individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States."

The Secretary concluded:  "The United States has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens. We will continue to work to bring home U.S. nationals wrongfully detained overseas and hold accountable those who are involved in the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals abroad."

Alex Raufoglu