Recommended Targets for Iran Human Rights Sanctions

NAME

PERSON/

ENTITY

BACKGROUND

AKA

Ameli, Saied Reza

Person

Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (2019–present), an extremist-dominated, policy-making government body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Said in 2019 that the regulations were necessary for “social health, protection of the family." He also serves as "director of the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which is approved by the UK government to provide legal advice." https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-linked-to-hijab-crackdown-is-director-of-british-migrant-charity-7729fcrkp

Member (2015–present) of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, which is sanctioned by the U.S. for "engaging in censorship or other activities with respect to Iran that prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of expression or assembly by citizens of Iran, or that limit access to print or broadcast media." The Treasury Department said in 2018 that "[t]he Supreme Council of Cyberspace was created in 2012 by Iran's Supreme Leader to centralize and oversee the Iranian regime's Internet policymaking and regulation.  Since its creation, and for the purported purpose of 'protecting the country from negative content of cyberspace,' the Supreme Council of Cyberspace has continued the Iranian regime's blocking of many social media sites and other Internet censorship efforts.  As the country's top Internet policymaking body, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace oversees the Iranian regime's disruption of the free flow of information by restricting  access to tens of thousands of websites, particularly those of international news sources, anti-regime outlets, ethnic and religious minorities, human rights groups, and popular social media sites." https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0250; https://facesofcrime.org/profile/16/seyed-saeid-reza-ameli-renani/  

IRGC deputy brigade commander (1981–88). https://facesofcrime.org/profile/16/seyed-saeid-reza-ameli-renani/

Ameli Renani, Seyed Saeid Reza

Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution

Entity

Extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Appointed by the supreme leader. Headed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who has spearheaded increased enforcement of hijab laws and regulations, including by the "Morality Police." https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-linked-to-hijab-crackdown-is-director-of-british-migrant-charity-7729fcrkp; https://sccr.ir/members/3

Supreme Cultural Revolution Council (SCRC)

Alamolhoda, Ahmad

Person

Representative of the Supreme Leader in the province of Razavi Khorasan. Friday prayer leader in Mashhad, the provincial capital. Father-in-law of President Ebrahim Raisi. He reportedly ordered security forces to block hundreds of women from entering a stadium to watch a soccer game on March 29. The forces "attacked [the women] with tear gas and pepper sprays, leaving several women injured" (https://www.iranintl.com/en/202204076000).

Has reportedly prohibited many "social and cultural events [and activities] in Mashhad, including concerts, playing electronic games, wearing certain type of clothes, riding bicycles and motorcycles and mountaineering by women..." (https://www.iranintl.com/en/202204076000).

Has vociferously pushed for stronger enforcement of mandatory hijab and frequently criticizes women for societal ills. He said "bad-hijab women give way to widespread promiscuity, abnormal sexual tendencies and Satanic liberties" and that "the enemy which is against Iran's power and progress in technology, is behind the sedition that propagates the idea of doing away with hijab as a prelude to uprooting Islam in Iran" (https://www.iranintl.com/en/202210089796).

On Sept. 23, 2022—one week after Mahsa Amini's death—he said, ""Hijab is the most important issue in Islam. The enemies of Islam wish to promote a lifestyle without hijab." Reportedly, he "praised the police force as 'the pivot of the authority of the regime for upholding hijab,' without mentioning the murder of Mahsa Amini" (https://www.iranintl.com/en/202209244911).

On Oct. 14, 2022, he reportedly "accused the critics [of the regime's enforcement of mandatory hijab] of undermining the holy Koran and Iran’s constitutional law. He also accused the protesters of not believing in God and his prophet; an accusation that could entail the death sentence for the protesters" (https://www.iranintl.com/en/202210159406).

Ameli, Saied Reza

Person

Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (2019–present), an extremist-dominated, policy-making government body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-linked-to-hijab-crackdown-is-director-of-british-migrant-charity-7729fcrkpz)

Said in 2019 that the regulations were necessary for “social health, protection of the family." He also serves as "director of the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which is approved by the UK government to provide legal advice" (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-linked-to-hijab-crackdown-is-director-of-british-migrant-charity-7729fcrkp).

Member (2015–present) of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace (https://facesofcrime.org/profile/16/seyed-saeid-reza-ameli-renani/), which is sanctioned by the U.S. for "engaging in censorship or other activities with respect to Iran that prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of expression or assembly by citizens of Iran, or that limit access to print or broadcast media."

The Treasury Department said in 2018 that "[t]he Supreme Council of Cyberspace was created in 2012 by Iran's Supreme Leader to centralize and oversee the Iranian regime's Internet policymaking and regulation. Since its creation, and for the purported purpose of 'protecting the country from negative content of cyberspace,' the Supreme Council of Cyberspace has continued the Iranian regime's blocking of many social media sites and other Internet censorship efforts. As the country's top Internet policymaking body, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace oversees the Iranian regime's disruption of the free flow of information by restricting access to tens of thousands of websites, particularly those of international news sources, anti-regime outlets, ethnic and religious minorities, human rights groups, and popular social media sites" (https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0250).

IRGC deputy brigade commander (1981–88) (https://facesofcrime.org/profile/16/seyed-saeid-reza-ameli-renani/).

Ameli Renani, Seyed Saeid Reza

Arafi, Alireza

Person

Member of the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, which are sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians," and the Assembly is "an entity implicated in gross and systematic violations of human rights for its neglect in upholding constitutional provisions such as Article 38, which forbids torture." https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207160716

Arafi promised "death" to protesters who flip the turbans of Iranian clerics. "Those who attack the turbans of the clergy should know that the turban will become their shroud," he said. https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3984041/head-iran’s-seminary-promises-‘death’-turban-flippers

Head of the Iranian Seminary. https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3984041/head-iran’s-seminary-promises-‘death’-turban-flippers

Bagheri Kani, Ali

Person

Deputy foreign minister for political affairs, 2021–present. Former secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights and vice president for international affairs of the Judiciary (2019–21). The Council is part of Iran's Judiciary, which is notorious for political prosecutions and systematically violating the human rights of the accused. The Iranian regime uses the Council to defend itself against international criticism for human rights abuses. Indeed, the Council's website lists the first of the body's main duties as "Supervising and maintaining the Islamic Republic’s human rights positions on the international scene and countering attacks levelled [against Iran]" (https://www.iranrights.org/library/document/3878). 

Bagheri Kani, as the Council's secretary, "call[ed] for an end to the position of the [United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran] and asserted that the country’s criteria for human rights was different because of the 'religious lifestyle' of its citizens" (https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/313615_IRAN-2021-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf). As the Council's secretary and as deputy foreign minister, he has attempted to deflect criticism of Iran for its human rights abuses (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/19/iran-slams-un-human-rights-resolution-on-anniversary-of-protests, https://www.ilna.ir/Section-politics-3/1291450-foreign-ministry-summons-german-amb-over-meddlesome-stance-on-iran-riots, https://bit.ly/3NRFm2H;).

Bagheri Kani also served as deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) from 2007 to 2013 (https://en.mehrnews.com/news/153852/Ali-Bagheri-Kani-appointed-as-new-head-of-High-Council-for-Human). The National Domestic Security Council (NDSC), which executes crackdowns on protests—including those after the 2009 presidential election, during Bagheri Kani's term as SNSC deputy secretary—is a subunit of the SNSC.

Bagheri, Ali; Baqeri, Ali; Baqeri Kani, Ali

Bahadori Jahromi, Ali

Person

Cabinet spokesman and chairman of the government's information council, 2021–present (https://www.president.ir/EN/132604).

On October 11, 2022, he reportedly tried to cover up the Iranian regime's responsibility for Mahsa Amini's death by "alleg[ing] without providing evidence that U.S. sanctions affected Amini’s ability to get medicine for the chronic illnesses she faced. However, an Iranian government report Friday said that she was taking hydrocortisone and levothyroxine — two medicines made in Iran available in pharmacies in the country" (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/iran-intensifies-violent-crackdown-on-protestors-in-kurdish-areas).

Bahadori-Jahromi, Ali

Esmaili, Mohammad Mehdi

Person

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance (2021–present). The ministry and the Press Supervisory Board, a ministry subunit, are sanctioned by the U.S. under Executive Order 13628 for violating freedom of the press in Iran.

Ghahremani, Mojtaba

Person

Judiciary head for the province of Hormozgan. The Judiciary website Mizan reported Nov. 13, 2022, that Ghahremani announced that 164 people had been charged "after the recent riots." The charges include "incitement to killing," "harming security forces," "propaganda against the regime," and "damaging public property," and trials will begin November 17, 2022. https://www.barrons.com/news/iran-charges-more-than-750-people-for-involvement-in-riots-01668340806

Gharibabadi, Kazem

Person

Secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights and vice president for international affairs of the Judiciary. The Council is part of Iran's Judiciary, which is notorious for political prosecutions and systematically violating the human rights of the accused. The Iranian regime uses the Council to defend itself against international criticism for human rights abuses. Indeed, the Council's website lists the first of the body's main duties as "Supervising and maintaining the Islamic Republic’s human rights positions on the international scene and countering attacks levelled [against Iran]" (https://www.iranrights.org/library/document/3878).

Gharibabadi visited Evin Prison—notorious for its brutal treatment of inmates, including political prisoners—in October 2022 in an attempt to cover up human rights abuses there, including deaths in a recent fire. "Clashes and fires broke out by those incarcerated in Ward No. 7, where thugs and prisoners convicted of violent crimes are held," he said. "Hopefully, the fires did not spread to other wards... Evin Prison is now calm again, and the issue is fully under control... all of the convicts are in communication with their families and that those who suffered injuries have gotten care... prisoners' safety and security are of utmost significance. Prison officials have pledged to ensure that all inmates' rights are upheld in full" (https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/477705/Iran-s-human-rights-chief-visits-Evin-prion).

In October 2022, the Council released a report denying the regime's responsibility for the death of Mahsa Amini. The report claimed Amini's death "was not caused by blows to the head or any vital organs and parts of the body" and that "there was no beating" of Amini, despite documented evidence to the contrary. The report added, "The peaceful gatherings that took place in different parts of the country following the death of the foregoing person have unfortunately morphed into riots and vandalism," and "The rioters used social media networks to organize the riots and carry out acts of destruction, thereby inciting and provoking everyone to confront the police." The report claimed that "[t]he riots have nothing to do with the death of Mahsa Amini, hijab and women’s rights. The enemies of Iran used this pretext and sparked chaos and riots with their continuous plans" (https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/477477/Iran-top-human-rights-council-releases-report-on-Mahsa-Amini).

The Council has also simultaneously lied about and justified the regime's crackdown on the fall 2022 protests, including internet shutdowns (https://australia.mfa.gov.ir/files/en276/Pages/2022110303590848654361827.pdf) and brutality by the Law Enforcement Forces (https://australia.mfa.gov.ir/files/en276/Pages/2022102605472555217548236.pdf). Gharibabadi has depicted the protests as riots; claimed (on Nov. 22, 2022) that "tens of thousands of firearms and weaponry from the riot instigators have been seized"; denied (that same day) claims that the authorities have detained 14,000 people; and blamed Instagram and Twitter for the use of their platforms to purportedly foment violence (https://www.sharghdaily.com/Section-iran-256/861138-gharibabadi-criticizes-us-west-false-narrations).

Gharib Abadi, Kazem

High Council for Human Rights

Entity

The Council is part of Iran's Judiciary, which is notorious for political prosecutions and systematically violating the human rights of the accused. The  Iranian regime uses the Council to defend itself against international criticism for human rights abuses. Indeed, the Council's website lists the first of the body's main duties as "Supervising and maintaining the Islamic Republic’s human rights positions on the international scene and countering attacks levelled [against Iran]" (https://www.iranrights.org/library/document/3878).

In October 2022, the Council released a report denying the regime's responsibility for the death of Mahsa Amini. The report claimed Amini's death "was not caused by blows to the head or any vital organs and parts of the body" and that "there was no beating" of Amini, despite documented evidence to the contrary. The report added, "The peaceful gatherings that took place in different parts of the country following the death of the foregoing person have unfortunately morphed into riots and vandalism," and "The rioters used social media networks to organize the riots and carry out acts of destruction, thereby inciting and provoking everyone to confront the police." The report claimed that "[t]he riots have nothing to do with the death of Mahsa Amini, hijab and women’s rights. The enemies of Iran used this pretext and sparked chaos and riots with their continuous plans" (https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/477477/Iran-top-human-rights-council-releases-report-on-Mahsa-Amini). The Council has also simultaneously lied about and justified the regime's crackdown on the fall 2022 protests, including internet shutdowns (https://australia.mfa.gov.ir/files/en276/Pages/2022110303590848654361827.pdf) and brutality by the Law Enforcement Forces (https://australia.mfa.gov.ir/files/en276/Pages/2022102605472555217548236.pdf).

The Council's secretary, Kazem Gharibabadi (who also serves as vice president for international affairs of the Judiciary) visited Evin Prison—notorious for its brutal treatment of inmates, including political prisoners—in October 2022 in an attempt to cover up human rights abuses there, including deaths in a recent fire. "Clashes and fires broke out by those incarcerated in Ward No. 7, where thugs and prisoners convicted of violent crimes are held," he said. "Hopefully, the fires did not spread to other wards... Evin Prison is now calm again, and the issue is fully under control... all of the convicts are in communication with their families and that those who suffered injuries have gotten care... prisoners' safety and security are of utmost significance. Prison officials have pledged to ensure that all inmates' rights are upheld in full" (https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/477705/Iran-s-human-rights-chief-visits-Evin-prion).

Human Rights Headquarters

Hosseini Khorasani, Seyyed Ahmad

Person

Member of the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, which are sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians," and the Assembly is "an entity implicated in gross and systematic violations of human rights for its neglect in upholding constitutional provisions such as Article 38, which forbids torture." https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/464714/Hosseini-Khorasani-named-new-member-of-Guardian-Council

Iran Prisons' Organization

Entity

Runs Iran's prison system, which is notorious for torture, beatings, and other human rights abuses against inmates. In 2021, the then-head of the Iran Prisons' Organization apologized and took responsibility for "unacceptable behavior" in leaked videos that showed guards beating inmates at the particularly brutal Evin Prison (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-prisons-head-apologises-after-leaked-pictures-show-abuse-2021-08-24/), which has been designated for human rights abuses by the U.S., EU, and Canada. Abuses have continued, however.

The current head of the Organization, Gholamali Mohammadi, has tried to cover up the government's systemic abuse of prisoners, claiming Iran's prisons "are fit to be presented to the world," given the system's "treatment of prisoners, its respect for prisoners’ rights and dignity, prison conditions, cultural and educational programs, job training for inmates, sanitary conditions in the prison environment, special attention to women and children, benefits such as pardons, leaves of absence and access to phone lines" (https://iranwire.com/en/politics/102506-fact-check-are-prisoners-rights-respected-in-iran/).

Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization

Entity

Released a report in October 2022 absolving the authorities of responsibility for Mahsa Amini's death, claiming "[Amini's] death was not caused by blows to the head or any other vital organs and parts of the body," but was due to an "underlying disease" (https://australia.mfa.gov.ir/files/en276/Pages/2022101105210496578351246.pdf). The Organization's head reportedly told Amini's father, "I’ll write whatever I want, whatever serves the country’s interests (about the cause of Mahsa’s death), and it’s none of your business" (https://twitter.com/IranIntl_En/status/158274989467404288) The Iranian human rights organization Hengaw said, however, that the Legal Medicine Organization is not independent and that its statements in cases that are politically sensitive are supervised by the authorities. Consequently, Hengaw said, "The assessment issued by this organization in Mahsa Amini’s case is devoid of any credibility and legal proof” (https://twitter.com/HengawO/status/1578347210802008064?s=20&t=UKWJaBCI2Bn4ZjYDBO_zqA).

Forensic Medicine Organization

Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council

Entity

"The Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council called for countrywide, pro-regime protests on October 28 to condemn the US and Israel for their alleged roles in stoking the protests.[xlix] The council is responsible for overseeing and coordinating various media and socio-cultural initiatives across the regime. The supreme leader appoints the council chairman" (https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-crisis-update-october-27). The Council also condemned several protesters who, they claimed, "insulted the sanctity of the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), set fire to a number of mosques and sacred flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, assaulted the hijab of women, vandalized public properties, and undermined the security of people" (https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2022/09/23/2778071/rallies-held-in-iran-to-condemn-violent-riots). By linking the protests to Iran's purported foreign enemies and accusing protesters of serious crimes—including sacrilegious ones—the Council is laying the groundwork for state violence against—and politically motivated prosecutions of—demonstrators. The Council is headed by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who also chairs Iran's Assembly of Experts and is secretary of the Guardian Council (https://www.leader.ir/en/content/20187/Ayatollah-Khamenei%27s-meeting-with-officials-of-Coordination-Council-for-Islamic-propagation).

Coordination Council for Islamic Propagation; Islamic Propagation Coordination Council

Jannati, Ahmad

Person

Chairman of Iran's Assembly of Experts and Secretary of the Guardian Council, both of which are sanctioned by Canada for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.” https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html

Head of the Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council. Former judge in the Islamic Revolutionary Courts, which "were established in the immediate aftermath of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 to hand down judgments in a violent campaign against political dissidents, and former members and supporters of the Shah’s government. Jannati was appointed as a judge in Ahvaz despite his lacking any legal experience... On countless occasions, he sentenced officials from the Pahlavi government to brutal forms of punishment, stripping them of any right to defend themselves." https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/ayatollah-ahmad-jannati-chairman-of-irans-assembly-of-experts-and-secretary-of-guardian-council

"[Jannati] spoke out against student protests that erupted in the early 1980s over the 'Cultural Revolution.' In fact, some people hold him responsible for the suppression and killing of student protestors." https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/ayatollah-ahmad-jannati-chairman-of-irans-assembly-of-experts-and-secretary-of-guardian-council

"Jannati also uses his sermons to encourage the violent repression of political dissidents. Following the 2009 post-presidential election protests, Jannati called for the arrest of reformist candidates and leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi, and for mass executions of protestors. Jannati publicly thanked Chief Justice Sadegh Larijani for hanging Mohammad Alireza Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour for their role in the protests, encouraging him to prosecute regime opponents more aggressively. 'For the sake of God, persist courageously, just like you executed these two people very quickly the Qur’an has specified what is to be done with them,' he said in one of his sermons." https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/ayatollah-ahmad-jannati-chairman-of-irans-assembly-of-experts-and-secretary-of-guardian-council

Judiciary

Entity

Article 156 of Iran’s constitution defines the judiciary as an “independent power,” which investigates and passes judgment on grievances, violations of rights, complaints, resolves litigation, settles disputes, and takes all necessary decisions and measures in probate matters. It also supervises the proper enforcement of laws and “uncovers crimes, prosecuting, punishing, and chastising criminals; and enacting the penalties and provisions of the Islamic penal code.” As the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur for human rights in Iran has noted, “the judiciary plays a vital role in interpreting often vaguely defined national security laws. However, this role can only be undertaken effectively if the rules for the appointment of members of the judiciary are transparent and based on the criteria of competence and integrity. It has been widely reported that strong interference is exerted regarding the appointment of judges. The Iranian judiciary has parallel systems: the public courts have general jurisdiction over all disputes, while the specialized courts, such as revolutionary courts, military courts, special clerical courts, the high tribunal for judicial discipline, and the court of administrative justice have functional areas of specialization.” The supreme leader directly appoints a chief justice for a period of five years, and the chief justice is considered the highest judicial authority. The chief justice, according to Article 162, also nominates the chief of the Supreme Court; the prosecutor-general for a period of five years; as well as six constitutional law experts who serve on the Guardian Council. Separately, the chief justice serves as a standing member of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), which calls into question the constitution’s description of the judiciary as a truly “independent power.” Iran’s judiciary is one of the most feared and notorious institutions in the Islamic Republic. Draconian sentences—from executions to floggings—coupled with the absence of due process have plagued the system for decades. During the tenure of Chief Justice Mohammad Yazdi (1989–1999), he abolished the Office of the Prosecutor, which resulted in judges doubling as prosecutors, and in the process, denied a fair trial to the accused. Although his successor, Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi later undertook reforms, complaining that he inherited an institution in “ruins,” since 1989, every chief justice of Iran has been sanctioned by the U.S. government for wide-ranging abuses. The UN special rapporteur for human rights in Iran warned in 2021, “the structural flaws of the justice system are so deep and at odds with the notion of the rule of law that one can barely speak of a justice system.” The chief justice of Iran has traditionally been a leading figure in the Iranian system. Before he was killed in 1981, Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, then head of the State Supreme Court, was considered by some to be the second most powerful figure in Iran after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Since 1989, observers have considered almost every chief justice as a top contender to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. Before their careers as chief justices, some served on the Guardian Council—for example Yazdi, Shahroudi, and Sadegh Larijani, who also served on the Assembly of Experts before becoming chief justice in 2009. Others, like Yazdi, had parliamentary experience as well. More recently, Ebrahim Raisi spent years climbing through the ranks of the judiciary—as a Tehran prosecutor-general, head of the General Inspection Office, deputy chief justice, and attorney general. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the current chief justice, also had a similar career trajectory, climbing the ranks of the judicial and intelligence communities—serving as intelligence minister, attorney general, and deputy chief justice—before securing the seat at the helm of the judiciary. https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/government-institution/judiciary

Kahmenoui, Mohammad Mossadegh

Person

First deputy chief justice (2021–present). Formerly served as "a deputy of the Judicial Organization of the Armed Forces; first deputy attorney general; deputy chief justice for legal affairs; deputy prosecutor of the Special Court for Clergy; and... head of the judiciary’s Administrative Court of Justice" (https://www.trackpersia.com/who-is-irans-new-first-deputy-chief-justice/).

Tried to cover up the reality that the government had sentenced a woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, to be stoned to death by stoning by falsly claiming to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that “her case is still being processed and nothing is yet decided." He also told the committee that she had been convicted of murder as well, although Mohammadi Ashtiani accused the "authorities of concocting the murder conviction solely to deflect international outrage. Mohammadi Ashtiani was eventually released from prison after her sentence was reduced from stoning to a term in jail" (https://www.trackpersia.com/who-is-irans-new-first-deputy-chief-justice/).

Khamenei, Ali

Person

Supreme leader (1989–present). Holds ultimate authority over and responsibility for all policy making and the national- and internal-security systems. Directly ordered the crackdown on the 2019 gas protests, telling security officials, "The Islamic Republic is in danger. Do whatever it takes to end it. You have my order" (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-protests-specialreport/special-report-irans-leader-ordered-crackdown-on-unrest-do-whatever-it-takes-to-end-it-idUSKBN1YR0QR).

About 1,500 people were killed, including 400 women and at least 17 teenagers, according to three Iranian interior ministry officials who spoke to Reuters.

Khamenei, Mojtaba

Person

Reportedly de facto commanded the IRGC's Basij paramilitary force during part of its crackdown on protests following the disputed 2009 presidential elections (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/08/khamenei-son-controls-iran-militia).

Liaises with the IRGC and BASIJ, both of which form the core of Iran’s multilayered domestic security network and are deployed as necessary to reinforce the police.

Khatami, Ahmad

Person

Member of the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts. Substitute Tehran Friday prayer leader in place of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and appointed by Khamenei. The Guardian Council… The Assembly of Experts… During the protests following the 2009 disputed presidential election, Khatami condemned demonstrators as rioters guilty of “moharebeh” (war against God), an offense punishable by death in Iran. https://web.archive.org/web/20090718092354/http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-26-voa14.cfm

On November 18, 2022, Khatami said trying to undermine the Iranian regime is “haram” (forbidden) and “we should deal with rioters using the toughest punishments.” He divided demonstrators into “murderers,” those “opposing God,” and ones “spread lies and agitate public opinion.” He said all three types of people were liable to capital punishment. Khatami also said the government’s infliction of violence was restricted to “rioters burning ambulances.” https://www.iranintl.com/en/202211189842

The Guardian Council is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.” https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html  

The Assembly of Experts is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. The Canadian foreign ministry said the Assembly is “an entity implicated in gross and systematic violations of human rights for its neglect in upholding constitutional provisions such as Article 38, which forbids torture.” https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html

Ministry of the Interior

Entity

Responsible for internal security policy, including the conduct of the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), which are sanctioned by the U.S. and EU for human rights abuses. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, "the Ministry of the Interior is also responsible for issuing permits for peaceful gatherings... The Ministry has routinely denied permits, or granted permits and then denied security, for the gatherings. These gatherings have then been attacked by plainclothes individuals believed to be part of the intelligence and security apparatus" (https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1015).

The ministry has also attempted to cover up the role of the Morality Police in Mahsa Amini's death, falsely claiming she suffered from preexisting health conditions and died of a heart attack (https://asiatimes.com/2022/09/crisis-in-iran-raisis-hijab-hype-backfiring-badly/).

The sanctioned Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi under Executive Order 13553 on Oct. 6, 2022, saying he "maintains oversight over all Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) deployed to subdue protests in Iran, including the ongoing protests over the death of Mahsa Amini. The LEF has used lethal force against protesters on multiple occasions in the past, making it a key instrument of the Iranian regime in its ongoing repression of its own people. The LEF’s actions have resulted in thousands of deaths, including at least dozens of casualties in the recent demonstrations against the Morality Police. In the past, Vahidi has warned Iranian women that the government’s security forces will penalize those 'breaking rules' in reference to hijab compliance. Recently, Vahidi has explicitly threatened protesters who continue to challenge the regime and has defended the brutal actions of LEF officers in suppressing ongoing protests" (https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0994).

Modarresi Yazdi, Mohammad-Reza

Person

Member of the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.”  https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207160716

Mohammadi, Gholamali

Person

Head of the Iran Prisons' Organization (https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1400/08/19/2605367/غلامعلی-محمدی-رئیس-سازمان-زندان-ها-شد). According to Iran analyst Saeed Ghasseminejad, "He is responsible for the persistent violation of human rights inside prisons in Iran. Forces under his command have been torturing & denying prisoners medical treatment which led to the death of imprisoned dissidents" (https://twitter.com/SGhasseminejad/status/1582030655114084352). Mohammadi has tried to cover up the government's systemic abuse of prisoners, claiming Iran's prisons "are fit to be presented to the world," given the system's "treatment of prisoners, its respect for prisoners’ rights and dignity, prison conditions, cultural and educational programs, job training for inmates, sanitary conditions in the prison environment, special attention to women and children, benefits such as pardons, leaves of absence and access to phone lines" (https://iranwire.com/en/politics/102506-fact-check-are-prisoners-rights-respected-in-iran/).

Montazeri, Mohammad Jafar

Person

Judiciary head for the province of Markazi. The state-run IRNA reported that Mousavi announced that 276 people had been charged with crimes related to the protests. https://www.barrons.com/news/iran-charges-more-than-750-people-for-involvement-in-riots-01668340806

Mousavi, Abdol-Mehdi

Person

Judiciary head for the province of Markazi. The state-run IRNA reported that Mousavi announced that 276 people had been charged. https://www.barrons.com/news/iran-charges-more-than-750-people-for-involvement-in-riots-01668340806

Muzavi, Kazem

Person

Member of parliament for the northwestern Iranian city of Ardabil. Tried to cover up the killing by security forces of Ardabil schoolgirl Asra Panahi, whom the forces beat after she refused to sing an anthem praising Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Musavi told a media outlet that Panahi had died by suicide (https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-schoolgirl-killed-refusing-song-ayatollah/32090116.html).

National Domestic Security Council (NDSC)

Entity

Executes crackdowns on protests. Chaired by interior minister. Subunit of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Nouri, Yousef

Person

Iran's education minister (2021–present). Told the media in Oct. 2022 that the regime is detaining students during the protests and taking them to “psychological institutions," adding, "It is possible these students have become ‘anti-social characters’ and we want to reform them." He said the students “can return to class after they’ve been reformed" (https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/middleeast/iran-schoolgirls-protests-institutions-intl; https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-15/iranian-forces-extend-crackdown-as-protests-enter-fifth-week).

Parvin, Kheyrollah

Person

Member of the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.”  https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207160716

Raeiszadeh, Mohammad

Person

Head of Iran's Medical Council (2021–present). Accused by more than 800 members of the Council of having "used the name and reputation of the organization to "legitimize the so-called fact-finding committee to cover up the cause of Mahsa Amini's death" (https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-amini-death-doctors-accuse-medical-officials/32081045.html). Raeiszadeh reportedly is or was the head of the Basij's doctors' organization and an IRGC medical school (https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2013/12/18/225087/basij-physicians-ready-for-overseas-humanitarian-missions-official; https://www.radiofarda.com/a/support-of-hundreds-of-doctors-against-iran-s-protests/32079467.html).

Raeeszadeh, Mohammad

Rahpeyk, Siamak

Person

Vice-secretary of the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.”  https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207160716

The U.S. sanctioned Rahpeyk under Executive Order 13876, which authorizes sanctions on officials appointed by the supreme leader. "Siamak Rahpeyk is a legal expert appointed by Jannati to the Guardian Council’s Central Committee for Election Supervision and as deputy head in charge of executive and election affairs," the U.S. Treasury Department noted. "Rahpeyk has justified the Guardian Council’s role to disqualify election candidates." https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm912

Raisi, Ebrahim

Person

President (2021–present). As such, he chairs the Supreme National Security Council. As first deputy chief justice in 2009, he personally “was involved in the regime’s brutal crackdown” on the Green Movement protests, the U.S. government said. Later, Raisi served as chief justice (2019–2021) and a standing member of the SNSC when it coordinated the organized brutality against Iranian citizens during the 2019 gas protests. And now he is signaling that the regime will violently suppress the ongoing marches, saying Iran must “deal decisively with those who oppose the country’s security and tranquility.” He has also dramatically increased enforcement of hijab laws, including by issuing a new "Hijab and Chastity" decree. increasing Morality Police patrols (and resulting arrests and beatings, including that resulting in the death of Mahsa Amini), prohibiting unveiled women from entering government offices and banks and using public transit, and increasing advertising about the hijab requirements.

Sadeghi Moghaddam, Mohammad-Hassan

Person

Member of the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.”  https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207160716   

The U.S. sanctioned Sadeghi Moghaddam under Executive Order 13876, which authorizes sanctions on officials appointed by the supreme leader. "Mohammad Hasan Sadeghi Moghadam is... a legal expert appointed by Jannati to the Guardian Council’s Central Committee for Election Supervision," the U.S. Treasury Department noted. "Sadeghi Moghadam also serves as a senior advisor to [Guardian Council Secretary Ahmad] Jannati. He has defended the practice of candidate disqualification, stating that it is the Guardian Council’s legal responsibility to vet candidates." https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm912

Setayeshi, Masoud

Person

Spokesman for Iran's judiciary. Said on Oct. 25, 2022, that trials of demonstrators had begun in provinces including Tehran, Isfahan and Kurdistan; that some arrested students had connections to Iran's enemies (and thereby Setayeshi laid the groundwork for them to face politically motivated prosecutions and severe sentences); that those engaging in murder and violence could incur the "maximum penalty"; and that others would be treated with "Islamic compassion" (https://www.ft.com/content/dc619255-609f-4859-90b0-2a2a84157d2a).

Shabzendedar Jahromi, Mehdi

Person

Member of the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.”  https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207160716

Shamkhani, Ali

Person

Secretary, Supreme National Security Council (2013–present).

Siari, Mehdi

Person

Deputy commander, Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), 2022–present (https://twitter.com/RezaVaisi/status/1563354245373431809; https://www.entekhab.ir/fa/news/692080/دشمن-برای-برهم-زدن-امنیت-روانی-جامعه-این-کار-را-در-حوزه-رسانه-و-به-صورت-خاص-اخبار-بد-دنبال-می%E2%80%8Cکند-آمریکایی%E2%80%8Cها-تنها-راه-مقابله-با-نظام-را-پروژه-نفوذ-در-میان-نخبگان-و-ایجاد-شبهه-در-میان-مردم-می%E2%80%8Cدانند).

The Intelligence Organization controls a section of Evin Prison (Evin is sanctioned under Executive Order 13553) "where prisoners are reportedly routinely subjected to physical and psychological torture" (https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-evin-prison-abuse/31429924.html).

The IRGC is also sanctioned under EO 13553. Siari meets that EO's standard of having "acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order."

Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution

Entity

Extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-linked-to-hijab-crackdown-is-director-of-british-migrant-charity-7729fcrkpz).

Headed by Iranian Preside Ebrahim Raisi (https://sccr.ir/members/3), who has spearheaded increased enforcement of hijab laws and regulations, including by the "Morality Police."

Supreme Cultural Revolution Council (SCRC)

Supreme National Security Council (SNSC)

Entity

Tasked with debating and forming consensus on critical national security issues confronting the Iranian system. According to Article 176 of the Iranian constitution, the duties of the SNSC are threefold: determining the defense and national security policies within the framework of general policies stipulated by the supreme leader; alignment of domestic and national security policies; and ensuring the country maintains the requisite resources to defend against internal and external threats. The president serves as its chairman, and standing members include the ministers of foreign affairs, intelligence, and interior, the speaker of parliament, the chief justice, the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, the commanders-in-chief of Iran’s Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and two representatives of Iran’s supreme leader, one of whom usually serves as the SNSC’s secretary, who is also technically named by the president. https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/government-institution/supreme-national-security-council-snsc.

The National Domestic Security Council (NDSC), which executes crackdowns on protests, is a subunit of the SNSC.

Tahan Nazif, Hadi

Entity

Member of and spokesperson for the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. As the Canadian foreign ministry noted, the Council is “an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections by disqualifying candidates who do not align with the regime’s ideology and upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.”  https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-sanctions-additional-representatives-of-the-iranian-regime.html;  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207160716

Taheri, Ahmad

Person

Commander of the police in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, where the authorities have brutally cracked down on protesters, reportedly killing more than 90. The AP reported that Taheri stated that "security forces were searching for more culprits" (https://apnews.com/article/iran-dubai-united-arab-emirates-middle-east-race-and-ethnicity-43972e30624f9aedcd62aaff6d49f67a).

Zohourian, Alaedin

Person

Head of the U.S.-sanctioned Press Supervisory Board.