In a statement released Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that the sanctions are enacted under the 2017 Iranian Law of “Countering the Violation of Human Rights and Adventurous and Terrorist Activities of the United States in the Region”.

According to the ministry, these measures specifically target individuals accused of suppressing peaceful demonstrations by university students and professors in the United States, who were advocating for the Palestinian cause against Israeli actions in Gaza.

Among those sanctioned are prominent figures such as William Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety of Georgia, and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, among others listed by the Iranian ministry.

The sanctions outlined in the law include the freezing of accounts and transactions within Iranian financial and banking systems, asset blockages within Iran's jurisdiction, and bans on visa issuance and entry into the country. Iranian authorities affirmed that all relevant national organizations and institutions will implement these measures in accordance with regulations set by the appropriate authorities.

This move by Iran comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing diplomatic friction between Tehran and Washington, particularly over regional policies and international human rights issues. (ILKHA)