Washington, Jan 16 (NationPress) The United States has enacted a series of new sanctions against Iranian security officials, shadow financial networks, and a specific prison, pointing to what it labeled as a brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrations throughout Iran.

The sanctions extend to Fardis Prison, which U.S. officials highlighted as a facility where women have endured "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment".

The U.S. Treasury Department also designated several Iranian security officials, notably Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme Council for National Security.

"As the courageous citizens of Iran strive for their fundamental rights, the Iranian regime has retaliated with violence and harsh repression against its own populace," stated Principal Deputy State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott in a press release.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that these measures are aimed at those accountable for quelling protests that commenced in December 2025.

"The United States firmly supports the Iranian populace in their pursuit of freedom and justice," Bessent added.

"Following directives from President Trump, the Treasury Department is sanctioning significant Iranian leaders who are implicated in the brutal repression against the Iranian populace."

According to the U.S. Treasury, Larijani was among the initial Iranian leaders advocating for violence against what U.S. officials characterized as legitimate demands from the protesters.

U.S. officials reported that Iran's security forces have utilized live ammunition against demonstrators, leading to numerous casualties across various provinces.

They also referenced an occurrence in Ilam Province, where elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assaulted injured protesters within a hospital.

Reports indicated that military forces deployed tear gas and metal pellets while attacking patients, families, and healthcare personnel, according to the statement.

Several provincial commanders faced sanctions for overseeing violent crackdowns.

Mohammad Reza Hashemifar, Commander of Iran's Law Enforcement Forces in Lorestan Province, and IRGC Commander Nematollah Bagheri were held responsible for shootings and threatening civilians.

In Fars Province, Law Enforcement Forces Commander Azizollah Maleki and IRGC Commander Yadollah Buali were sanctioned for their roles in the killings of protesters in Shiraz.

U.S. officials noted that hospitals in the area were inundated with gunshot victims, compelling the rejection of other patients.

Families of the deceased were coerced into providing false testimonies on state television, the Treasury reported, or face the possibility of not receiving the remains of their loved ones.

Concurrently, the U.S. targeted what it termed Iran's "shadow banking" system.

The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 18 individuals and entities accused of laundering proceeds from Iranian oil and petrochemical sales.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that these networks are associated with sanctioned financial institutions Bank Melli and Shahr Bank, relying on front companies across multiple nations.

The sanctioned entities included Iran-based Nikan Pezhvak Aria Kish Company, UAE-based Empire International Trading FZE, and Singapore-based Golden Mist PTE. Ltd.

Several high-ranking officials linked to these companies were also designated.

Additional sanctions affected Shahr Bank-related companies, such as HMS Trading FZE and Tejarat Hermes Energy Qeshm, along with various trading and shipping firms accused of facilitating oil and petrochemical exports.

U.S. officials claimed that the funds generated through these networks were used to finance repression within Iran and support militant organizations abroad, rather than assisting ordinary Iranians grappling with economic challenges.

All property and interests of the designated individuals under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.