US sanctions Iran groups for ‘rights abuses’

WASHINGTON: US Treasury placed several Iranian state groups on its sanctions blacklist Wednesday, accusing them of serious human rights abuses and censorship.

In the latest of a series of actions meant to increase pressure on the Tehran regime, the Treasury department named the semi- official paramilitary group Ansar- e- Hezbollah and three of its leaders to its sanctions list.

The goal is to lock those who are blacklisted out of the global financial and commercial system.

Ansar- e- Hezbollah is “an organisation supported by the Iranian regime that harasses and attacks the Iranian people,” the Treasury said, citing its alleged role in acid attacks against women seen as improperly dressed in Isfahan, and other violent attacks on student protestors.

The Treasury also sanctioned Tehran’s Evin Prison, used to house political prisoners, saying people held there are subject to sexual assaults, physical assaults and electric shock.

Two Iranian government officials involved in censorship, including blocking the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram, and a governmentlinked tech unit, Hanista Programing Group, were also placed ont he sanctions blacklist.

Hanista, the Treasury said, creates and distributes messaging apps meant to be alternatives to Telegram but which allow the government to monitor and track users’ phones. — AFP