Senate Democrats say Trump administration policy has empowered Iran
The State Department also announced new sanctions on Iran including on the judge who purportedly ordered the execution of famed wrestler Navid Afkari.
The United States placed new, human rights-related sanctions on Iran today. Democratic senators also told State Department officials at a Foreign Relations Committee hearing the same day that US policy under President Donald Trump has enabled — not deterred — Iran.
US special envoy for Iran Elliott Abrams informed the committee at the hearing today of additional sanctions the United States placed on the Islamic Republic. He said the sanctions designate the judge who ordered the execution of famed wrestler Navid Afkari this month. The Iranian government accused Afkari of killing an Iranian government official and sentenced him to death. The judiciary gave conflicting reports on the official he supposedly killed, and the incident may have taken place during protests in the country.
“The regime brutally tortured and then shamefully executed champion wrestler Navid Afkari to send to its own people an unmistakable message of intimidation,” said Abrams on Afkari’s death.
Later in the day, the State Department issued a press release detailing the new sanctions on Iranian judges and legal entities for alleged human rights abuses. As per Abrams’ testimony, the department named Seyyed Mahmoud Sadati, whom US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said was “involved in the appalling case of Navid Afkari.”
