Source: VOA
The United States Wednesday imposed sanctions on Iranian state-sponsored
broadcasters as it continues to pressure Iran over the country's controversial
nuclear program.
Protests at Tehran University against Islamic Republic of
Iran Broadcasting
(December 2009)
The U.S. Treasury Department took the action against the
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and its director Ezzatollah Zarghami.
The sanctions block their access to the U.S. financial system. The sanctions
also cover the Iranian Cyber Police and two other entities: the Communications
Regulatory Authority and Iran Electronics Industries.
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Ezzatollah Zarghami
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A U.S. official said those named are involved in censorship, jamming, and
using social media to hunt down political activists. The broadcasters are being
targeted as a government censor of Iran's opposition movement.
Under U.S. law, the Treasury Department can target anyone in Iran it believes
restricts the flow of information to the Iranian public.
The Treasury Department said that after Iran's 2009 presidential election and in
the wake of the Arab Spring movements, jamming of foreign channels by Tehran,
particularly on the British Broadcasting Corporation and Voice of America,
increased in intensity.
The Obama administration says it will continue to increase pressure on Iran as
long as Tehran continues to seek a nuclear weapon and violate human rights.
Previously announced sanctions targeting Iranian oil revenues went into effect
Wednesday.
Those sanctions restrict Iran's ability to use oil revenues held in foreign
countries and prevent Tehran from transferring those funds to Iran, effectively
"locking up" the revenues abroad.
A U.S. official said the move is aimed at making it harder for Iran to access
its dwindling oil revenues.
The action announced Wednesday is the latest in a series of sanctions against
Iran. Some Western nations, including the U.S., believe Iran is secretly trying
to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.
The United Nations Security Council has demanded in multiple resolutions that
Iran suspend all enrichment-related activities and allow U.N. inspectors to
access its nuclear facilities.
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