Iran Human Rights Abusers Who Should Be Sanctioned Now

Updated: December 16, 2022

In reaction to Mahsa Amini’s death in Iranian police custody and the regime’s violent attempts to suppress nationwide protests, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada have sanctioned certain Iranian officials and institutions responsible for human rights abuses. All Iran human rights sanctions designations can be viewed in United Against Nuclear Iran’s Iran Human Rights Sanctions Tracker.

Unfortunately, many more Iranian human rights violators have yet to be sanctioned by anyone. Consequently, United Against Nuclear Iran has compiled, and will continuously update, the following list of recommended targets for new human rights sanctions designations.

The sanctioned individuals noted on this page were designated after UANI’s recommendation.

Name Person/Entity Background AKA Sanctioned
Ahmadian, Ali Akbar Person

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) since his appointment by President Raisi in May 2023. Read More

Amir-Abdollahian, Hossein Person

Foreign minister (2021–present). Read More

Arafi, Alireza Person

Member of the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, which are sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. Read More

Bagheri Kani, Ali Person

Deputy foreign minister for political affairs, 2021–present. Read More

Bagheri, Ali; Baqeri, Ali; Baqeri Kani, Ali
Bagheri, Mohammad Person

Chief of the General Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces. Read More

Bahadori Jahromi, Ali Person

Cabinet spokesman and chairman of the government's information council, 2021–present. Read More

Bahadori-Jahromi, Ali
Bankipour Fard, Amir Hosein Person

Member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, an extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Read More

Eftekhari, Iman Person

Member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, an extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Read More

Eslami, Mohammad Person

Vice president of Iran and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), 2021–present. Read More

Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order (EIKO) Entity

According to the U. Read More

Ghahremani, Mojtaba Person

Judiciary head for the province of Hormozgan. Read More

Ghalibaf, Mohammad Bagher Person

Speaker of parliament. Read More

Qalibaf, Mohammad Baqer
Gharibabadi, Kazem Person

Secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights and vice president for international affairs of the Judiciary. Read More

Gharib Abadi, Kazem
Gheyb Parvar, Gholam Hossein Person

IRGC brigadier general and former commander of the Basij. Read More

Gheib Parvar, Gholam Hossein; Gheib Parvar, Gholamhossein; Gheibparvar, Gholam Hossein; Gheibparvar, Gholamhossein; Gheybparvar; Gholam Hossein; Gheybparvar, Gholamhossein
Haddad Adel, Gholamali Person

Member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, an extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Read More

High Council for Human Rights Entity

The Council is part of Iran's Judiciary, which is notorious for political prosecutions and systematically violating the human rights of the accused. Read More

Human Rights Headquarters
Hojjati, Hossein Person

Deputy minister of intelligence and security. Read More

Hosseini Khorasani, Seyyed Ahmad Person

Member of the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, which are sanctioned by the Canadian government for human rights abuses. Read More

Iran Prisons' Organization Entity

Runs Iran's prison system, which is notorious for torture, beatings, and other human rights abuses against inmates. Read More

Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization Entity

Released a report in October 2022 absolving the authorities of responsibility for Mahsa Amini's death, claiming "[Amini's] death was not caused by blows to the head or any other vital organs and parts of the body," but was due to an "underlying disease". Read More

Forensic Medicine Organization