U.S. Sanctions Senior Iranian Security Officials as Possible Military Action Paused
With a decision on possible U.S. military action reportedly put on pause, the administration has instead imposed new Treasury sanctions on several senior Iranian security officials. The Treasury singled out Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s national security council, accusing him of coordinating a nationwide protest crackdown that rights groups say killed thousands.
📌 Key Facts
- The administration has put a decision on U.S. military action against Iran "on pause."
- Instead of military action, the U.S. is turning to economic measures and has imposed new sanctions on Iran.
- The U.S. Treasury Department issued a new sanctions list targeting senior Iranian officials.
- Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s national security council and a close ally of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is the top target on the Treasury's sanctions list.
- The Treasury accuses Larijani of coordinating a nationwide protest crackdown that rights groups estimate has killed thousands.
📊 Relevant Data
Between 2012 and 2019, US sanctions caused an average annual decline of 17 percentage points in the size of Iran's middle class, reducing it from a projected 84% of the population to an actual 56%, with causal factors including a lower per capita income (average annual loss of $3000), disrupted merchandise trade, and worsening employment quality leading to increased self-employment and vulnerable jobs.
From 2010 to 2024, 97% of executions on political charges in Iran involved Kurds, Baluch, or Arabs, who comprise about 14% of the population (Kurds 10%, Baluch 2%, Arabs 2%), with causal factors including structural inequality in power and resource distribution, suppression of non-Persian languages, economic disparities, and religious discrimination.
A geography of protest: Inside the rise of Iran’s minority factor — Atlantic Council
In 2024, Baluch individuals, who make up 2-6% of Iran's population, represented 17% of executions on narcotics charges, following nearly 50% in 2021 and 2022, amid broader patterns of disproportionate repression in ethnic minority regions.
A geography of protest: Inside the rise of Iran’s minority factor — Atlantic Council
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that the administration has put a decision on U.S. military action against Iran "on pause" while turning to economic measures.
- Identifies Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s national security council and close ally of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the top target on Treasury’s new sanctions list.
- Attributes to the U.S. Treasury Department the accusation that Larijani coordinated the nationwide protest crackdown, which rights groups estimate has killed thousands.