IranU.S. places terror sanctions on Iranian spy ministry
On Thursday the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it had placed sanctions on Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, accusing it of supporting terrorism, committing human rights abuses against Iranians, and participating in the ongoing suppression of protests in Syria
Saudi Crown Prince Nayef meeting with Haydar Moslehi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence and Security // Source: alaalem.com
On Thursday the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it had placed sanctions on Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, accusing it of supporting terrorism, committing human rights abuses against Iranians, and participating in the ongoing suppression of protests in Syria.
More specifically, the Treasury Department said the ministry of intelligence and security had helped al Qaeda operatives by providing them IDs and passports as well as arming and funding al Qaeda in Iraq.
The Iranian ministry joins a list of other specially designated terrorist organization. The move puts a freeze on any assets the group may have within U.S. jurisdiction, prohibits American businesses from carrying out any transactions with the group, and bans ministry employees from travelling to the United States. The sanctions are largely symbolic as it us unknown if the ministry has any actual holdings in the United States.
The announcement comes on the same day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iranian sanctions have been largely ineffective. Contrarily, the Israeli defense minister and the vice premier said sanctions are strong and have Iranians in a panic.
