AJC Praises New U.S. Sanctions for Iran Human Rights Abuses

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Jun 09, 2011, 08:55 ET

NEW YORK, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC praised the Obama Administration for imposing new sanctions against Iran for massive violations of human rights.

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"Today's U.S. action is an essential reminder that the Iranian regime's gross and systematic violation of human rights is being closely monitored and will not go unanswered," said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

The new sanctions were announced today by the U.S. State and Treasury Departments against three official security bodies -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Basij Resistance Force, and Iran's national police -- as well as against the chief of police, Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam.

They were added to the list of organizations and individuals sanctioned by the U.S. for their central roles in perpetrating human rights abuses against Iranian citizens. The U.S. action prohibits Americans from engaging in any transactions with the sanctioned bodies, freezes assets in the U.S., and blocks American visas for anyone in the three organizations.

"Today's welcome action is especially significant, coming on the second anniversary of the fraudulent 2009 national Iranian elections," said Harris. "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed out that 'Nearly two years after Iran's brave citizens took to the streets, the struggle for civil liberties and fundamental civil rights continues.' The United States, and all people of good will, stand with those brave citizens in their noble quest for human dignity and human rights."

Harris concluded, "America's latest sanctions against the despotic Iranian regime are another clear signal of our determination to match policies with principles. We hope that like-minded nations around the world will soon enact similar sanctions as those announced today by the U.S."

SOURCE American Jewish Committee