The U.S. Departments of the Treasury and State on Wednesday designated two Iranian officials for their involvement in human rights abuses in Iran since the June 2009 presidential election.
Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, Tehran Prosecutor General, and Mohammed Reza Naqdi, commander of the IRGC’s Basij Forces, were designated in pursuant to Executive Order 13553 which provides the U.S. with new tools to target human rights abuses in Iran.
“Today’s designations highlight the complicity of two Iranian officials in significant human right abuses against the Iranian people,” said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. “Dolatabadi and Naqdi have no place in the international financial system.”
As a result of the designation, any property in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. citizens in which the designees have an interest is blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Visa sanctions may also be imposed on the two officials.
Dolatabadi was appointed as Tehran Prosecutor General in August 2009. His office has indicted a large number of protesters, including people who took part in the December 2009 Ashura Day protests which resulted in deaths and injuries.
His office charged protesters with the charge of Muharebeh (enmity against God) which carries death sentence. His office also targeted and arrested reformists, human rights activists, and members of the media in order to tackle opposition group… >>>
