US Slaps Sanctions on Iranian 'Shadow Fleet' Tied to Repression
In a move aimed at pressuring Iran over its human rights record, the US has imposed new sanctions on a fleet of ships involved in supporting the country's oil exports. The vessels, which include nine ships and their respective owners or management firms, are being targeted for allegedly generating funds used to repress Iranian protesters.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions aim to cut off Tehran's ability to finance its oil-related activities and instead fund "regional terrorist proxies, weapons programs, and security services." US officials claim that these revenue streams fuel Iran's repression of its own people, particularly during recent protests that left hundreds dead.
According to reports, 3,117 people were killed in the crackdown on demonstrations, while the HRANA human rights agency puts the number at 4,519. Many of those killed were protesters, security personnel, and bystanders who had nothing to do with the unrest.
Iran has promised harsh sentences for the hundreds of people arrested during the protests. The US has also sent a naval force to the region, with President Donald Trump vowing to "watch" Iran.
The UN Human Rights Council held an emergency session on Friday, calling on Iranian leaders to end their "brutal repression." The council voted unanimously to extend and broaden the mandate of independent investigators gathering information on rights violations in Iran.
In a move aimed at pressuring Iran over its human rights record, the US has imposed new sanctions on a fleet of ships involved in supporting the country's oil exports. The vessels, which include nine ships and their respective owners or management firms, are being targeted for allegedly generating funds used to repress Iranian protesters.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions aim to cut off Tehran's ability to finance its oil-related activities and instead fund "regional terrorist proxies, weapons programs, and security services." US officials claim that these revenue streams fuel Iran's repression of its own people, particularly during recent protests that left hundreds dead.
According to reports, 3,117 people were killed in the crackdown on demonstrations, while the HRANA human rights agency puts the number at 4,519. Many of those killed were protesters, security personnel, and bystanders who had nothing to do with the unrest.
Iran has promised harsh sentences for the hundreds of people arrested during the protests. The US has also sent a naval force to the region, with President Donald Trump vowing to "watch" Iran.
The UN Human Rights Council held an emergency session on Friday, calling on Iranian leaders to end their "brutal repression." The council voted unanimously to extend and broaden the mandate of independent investigators gathering information on rights violations in Iran.
. They're basically saying they know more about what's going on in Iran than the Iranian people themselves. Newsflash: sanctions aren't a substitute for actual diplomacy 
. It's like they think throwing some ships under the bus will magically fix everything 
. Meanwhile, the real victims are still reeling from the protests – those 4,519+ dead and maimed people deserve way more than just a slap on the wrist 
. And what's with this "regional terrorist proxies" nonsense? It sounds like they're just trying to justify their own military presence in the region 
. Can't we have a more nuanced conversation about human rights instead of resorting to cheap politics? 
these ships have been doing shady stuff for years and it's high time someone brought them to justice 
what really gets me is how the iranian government is using oil revenue to fund its own security services 
that's basically just a fancy way of saying they're paying themselves to crush dissenting voices 
anyway, it's nice to see the US taking a stand (at least for now) and supporting human rights efforts worldwide 
but at least they're speaking out against iran's repression - those protests were super devastating, so many innocent people lost their lives 
and yeah, the UN taking action is a big deal, maybe we'll finally see some real change in iran 
Like, what about all the other countries that are also guilty of repressing their own people? Shouldn't we be focusing on those ones instead?
. And what's with the US sending their naval force? Is that gonna make Iran fold under pressure or just give them more ammo to play with?
. I mean, can we just talk to them instead? Diplomacy over all this military posturing 
. And what's with all these human rights agencies saying 4,500 people were killed? That's just numbers, you know? How are they supposed to be believed? 
I mean, come on, US is really going all out on this one! Sanctions are fine, but have they ever stopped the real issue? 
We need more than just sanctions; we need real change and accountability from governments around the world! 
and I gotta say, it's a total bummer for anyone who cares about human rights. I mean, can you imagine being part of a ship that's basically financing the repression of people in your own country? It's just so messed up 
like we don't have enough problems at home. sanctions never work, it's just gonna make things worse for iranian people who are already struggling. what's the point of sending a naval force too? just gonna create more tension... and what about all those people killed in protests? does no one remember what happened in venezuela when we did similar sanctions? 
I'm all for holding countries accountable, but sometimes you gotta wonder if there's more to it than just symbolic gestures 
. I wish our leaders would focus on supporting victims' families instead of threatening Iran with more sanctions 
. It's all so... complicated 
.
. I don't think it's fair to pin that on Iran alone, though. We should be supporting our own protesters who are fighting for justice, not just criticizing another country 
.
