U.S. imposes sanctions on Iranian leaders over role in suppressing domestic protests

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Thursday announced sanctions against Iranian leaders over their role in shutting down Internet access in the country and in adopting other "violent" measures to quell the ongoing domestic protests sparked by the death of a young girl.

Altogether, seven senior Iranian officials were designated by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for sanctions, including Minister of the Interior Ahmad Vahidi, Minister of Communications Eisa Zarepour, as well as five officials within Iran's security services senior leadership, according to the Treasury's statement.

"As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of these individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC," read the statement. "In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked."

The U.S. sanctions came in the wake of the death last month of 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini. Amini died while in the custody of Iran's morality police, who said she failed to properly wear the Islamic headscarf known as the hijab.

Amini's death triggered nationwide protests in Iran, during which women were seen waiving and burning the veils.

Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has accused the United States of having "long attempted to undermine Iran's stability and security."