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US designates three Iranian officials over suppressing protesters

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (KUNA) -- The United States on Wednesday designated three Iranian security officials over "serious human rights abuses in Iran's Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan Provinces" during the crackdown on anti-government protesters.
"Today, we are taking additional action as Iranian security forces, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces, reportedly are stepping up their violent crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests in Iran's Kurdistan Province and surrounding areas," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a press statement.
He noted that the US Department of the Treasury designated Mohammad Taghi Osanloo, the commander of the IRGC ground forces unit in West Azerbaijan Province in Iran.
"The Department of the Treasury also designated Alireza Moradi, the commander of Iranian Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) in the city of Sanandaj who reportedly ordered the mass arrest of protesters," he said.
During nationwide protests in November 2019, Moradi authorized the use of lethal weapons against unarmed protesters in Sanandaj.
Lastly, the Department of the Treasury is designating Hasan Asgari, the administrator of Sanandaj and a former IRGC commander.
"The United States continues to support the Iranian people as they protest nationwide. The human rights abuses inflicted by Iran's government on its people must not go without consequence," Blinken said. (end) rsr.ibi