US sanctioning Iranian IRGC brigadier general

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. announced on Friday it is sanctioning a top military official in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps over alleged involvement in the violent suppression of popular protests.

Brian Hook, the State Department's top official for Iran, told reporters the department has imposed visa sanctions on Brigadier General Hassan Shavapour for committing "gross violations of human rights against protesters" in the Iranian city of Mahshahr.

Hook said the general "oversaw" the killings of 148 people during last November's mass demonstrations, and "was in command of units responsible for the violent crackdown and lethal repression around Mahshahr."

The designation is based upon information sent via a "tip line" Secretary of State Mike Pompeo established for Iranians during the protests. Over 88,000 pieces of information have been received through the channel, according to Hook.

Friday's designation of the Iranian general comes amid the Trump administration's continued push on what it calls its "maximum pressure campaign" on Iran, which has included President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw Washington from an international pact intended to curb Tehran's nuclear program and subsequent reimposition of economic sanctions on the Iranian oil sector.

The effort has repeatedly brought tensions between the U.S. and Iran to a fever pitch, most recently putting them on the brink of war following the killing of the former architect of Iran's regional strategy.

Iran responded by launching salvos of ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases where U.S. forces are stationed, but both sides have indicated they would not escalate further militarily.

Iran announced, following the death of Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, that it would no longer comply with any commitments under the 2015 deal signed with several world powers, which Trump has already left and has sought to scuttle.

Earlier this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned the U.S. and Europe against taking any "wrong" steps in response to Iran's decision.

“If you take a wrong step, you will sustain loss, the right move is to come back to the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action],” he said, referring to the accord.

"U.S. troops are not safe in the Middle East and the insecurity may be inflicted upon European soldiers in the future," he added.

Hook responded, saying "as long as the Iranian regime threatens the world it will become further isolated."

"Until Iran behaves like a normal nation, its isolation will only deepen," he added.