Iran Human Rights Abusers Who Should Be Sanctioned Now

Updated: December 16, 2022

In reaction to Mahsa Amini’s death in Iranian police custody and the regime’s violent attempts to suppress nationwide protests, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada have sanctioned certain Iranian officials and institutions responsible for human rights abuses. All Iran human rights sanctions designations can be viewed in United Against Nuclear Iran’s Iran Human Rights Sanctions Tracker.

Unfortunately, many more Iranian human rights violators have yet to be sanctioned by anyone. Consequently, United Against Nuclear Iran has compiled, and will continuously update, the following list of recommended targets for new human rights sanctions designations.

The sanctioned individuals noted on this page were designated after UANI’s recommendation.

Name Person/Entity Background AKA Sanctioned
Ministry of the Interior Entity

Responsible for internal security policy, including the conduct of the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), which are sanctioned by the United States and EU for human rights abuses. Read More

Mir-Kazemi, Masoud Person

Vice president of Iran and head of the Budget and Plan Organization (BPO), 2021–23. Read More

Mirbagheri, Morteza Person

Member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, an extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Read More

Mirsalim, Mostafa Person

Iranian MP and former minister of culture and Islamic guidance, presidential candidate, and adviser to current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Read More

Modarresi Yazdi, Mohammad-Reza Person

Member of the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. Read More

Moghaddam, Ahmad Mortazavi Person

Head of Iran's Supreme Court, 2019–present. Read More

Moghaddam, Bahman Amiri Person

IRGC brigadier general and former governor of Kermanshah Province (January–December 2022). Read More

Moqaddam, Bahman Amiri
Mohammadi Araqi, Mohamoud Person

Member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, an extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Read More

Mohammadi, Gholamali Person

Head of the Iran Prisons' Organization. Read More

Mokhber Dezfuli, Mohammad Reza Person

First–vice president of Iran (2021–present). Read More

Mokhber, Mohammad; Mokhber Dezfuli, Mohammad
Molabeygi, Gholamreza Person

Member of the Guardian Council, which is sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. Read More

Montazeralmahdi, Saeid Person

Spokesman for Iran's Law Enforcement Forces (LEF). Read More

Morovati, Hassan Person

"Senior Iranian officials have discussed implementing a countrywide internet shutdown for several hours on January 19-20 to prevent cheating on a scheduled university entrance exam. Read More

Mortazavi, Hassan Person

Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces Quds Regional Operational Headquarters (2023–present). Read More

Mortazavi, Sowlat Person

Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, 2022–present. Read More

Mousavi, Abdol-Mehdi Person

Judiciary head for the province of Markazi. Read More

Mousavian, Seyyed Mohammad Person

As the Prosecutor General of Isfahan, Seyyed Mohammad Mousavian would have overseen the arrests of hundreds of citizens participating in the 2022-23 protests. Read More

Movahedi Azad, Mohammad Person

Prosecutor General of Iran (2023–present). Read More

Abadi, Salim; Judge Movahed; Movahedinia
Muzavi, Kazem Person

Member of parliament for the northwestern Iranian city of Ardabil. Read More

National Domestic Security Council (NDSC) Entity

Executes crackdowns on protests. Read More