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 Sort descending
Shibani, Lotfollah Person

"Shiraz City Governor Lotfollah Shibani announced January 26 that local merchants are required to deny services to unveiled women. Read More

Rezaian, Gholam Reza Person

"Law Enforcement [Forces[ Commander Ahmad Reza Radan appointed Gholam Reza Rezaian as Law Enforcement Command (LEC) Intelligence Chief on January 29. Read More

Kazemi, Farshad Person

Commander of the Law Enforcement Forces in Mahshahr, Khuzestan. Read More

Mirsalim, Mostafa Person

Iranian MP and former minister of culture and Islamic guidance, presidential candidate, and adviser to current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Read More

Movahedi Azad, Mohammad Person

Prosecutor General of Iran (2023–present). Read More

Abadi, Salim; Judge Movahed; Movahedinia
Rezaei, Ali Person

The supreme leader's representative to the IRGC's paramilitary force, the Basij (Dec. Read More

Qureshi, Qassem Person

Deputy commander of the Basij. Read More

Sadeghi, Abdollah Haji Person

The supreme leader's representative to the IRGC (essentially the organization's political commissar), 2018–present, and formerly deputy representative, 2011–18. Read More

Sadeghi, Abdollah Hajji
Sararfaraz, Karim Person

The Supreme Leader's deputy representative to the IRGC's paramilitary force, the Basij (Dec. Read More

Shahroudi, Mahmoud Mohammadi Person

Head of the Professors, Students, and Clerics Organization of the IRGC's paramilitary force, the Basij (Dec. Read More

Sahraei, Mohammad Tabib Person

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi (sanctioned by the U. Read More

Moghaddam, Bahman Amiri Person

IRGC brigadier general and former governor of Kermanshah Province (January–December 2022). Read More

Moqaddam, Bahman Amiri
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
Bahadori Jahromi, Ali Person

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

Bahadori-Jahromi, Ali
Ghahremani, Mojtaba Person

Judiciary head for the province of Hormozgan. Read More

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
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
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