US Sanctions Iran’s Interior Minister Over Deadly Crackdown

In a decisive move to hold Tehran accountable for a brutal campaign of domestic repression, the United States government has announced a sweeping new round of sanctions targeting senior Iranian officials. Among those penalised is the Iranian Minister of the Interior, Eskandar Momeni, whom Washington identifies as a central figure in the lethal suppression of anti-government protests that have convulsed the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.

Treasury Targets ‘Architects of Repression’

On Friday, 30 January 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a formal designation against Momeni, citing his command over the nation’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF). According to the Treasury’s statement, the LEF has been the primary instrument of state violence, responsible for the deaths of thousands of peaceful demonstrators since the unrest erupted in late December 2025.

“President Trump stands with the people of Iran,” stated a Treasury spokesperson, confirming that the administration remains committed to dismantling the networks that sustain the regime’s “tyrannical oppression.” The sanctions freeze any assets held by the designated individuals within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit American citizens and entities from engaging in any financial transactions with them.

A Historic Scale of Unrest

The current wave of protests, triggered by a catastrophic currency collapse and soaring inflation, has rapidly evolved into a direct challenge to the theocratic government. Human rights organisations and medical professionals on the ground describe a crackdown of unprecedented scale, with reports of security forces using military-grade weaponry against civilians.

Broadening the Pressure

The U.S. action follows closely on the heels of similar measures taken by the European Union, which recently designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. In addition to Momeni, the U.S. also targeted:

Babak Morteza Zanjani: A prominent investor accused of embezzling billions in state oil revenue to fund IRGC operations.

Digital Asset Exchanges: For the first time, two cryptocurrency platforms were sanctioned for allegedly facilitating the laundering of funds for sanctioned Iranian elites.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent noted that while the regime “squanders oil revenues on nuclear weapons and terrorist proxies,” the U.S. will continue to target the “corrupt elites” who enrich themselves at the expense of the Iranian populace.

As Tehran continues to enforce a near-total communication blackout to mask the extent of the violence, the international community’s focus on individual accountability marks a significant escalation in diplomatic and economic pressure.