U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Iran's IRGC Unit, Russia's FSB For Detaining Americans

 

The United States has imposed sanctions on Russia's FSB ( Federal Security Service) and the intelligence unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the “wrongful detention” of Americans.

The US accused the FSB and the IRGC of taking part in the detention of US citizens in Iran and Russia. The US slammed them for the wrongful detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence of the United States, said in a statement, “Today's action targets senior officials and security services in Iran and Russia that are responsible for the hostage-taking or wrongful detention of U.S. nationals abroad. We are committed to bringing home wrongfully detained U.S. nationals and acting against foreign threats to the safety of U.S. nationals abroad.”

Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State, said that the US wanted to bring home the detained Americans. He slammed Iran and Russia for detaining U.S. nationals.

The new sanctions targeted four senior commanders of the IRGC. FSB was also targeted by previous U.S. sanctions. According to a top US official, the latest sanctions were just the beginning and the US would impose more sanctions in the future.

According to media reports and various sources, Russia and Iran have arrested a number of American citizens in their prisons. The US has claimed that the arrests were politically charged.

In recent months, the US has imposed sanctions on various Iranian entities and officials, including top religious leaders, over their role in cracking down on protests that were sparked by the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in Iranian police custody, in September 2022.

The US also accused Iran of supplying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia to use in the Ukraine war.