US hits Iran with more sanctions over Mahsa Amini death

WASHINGTON, Oct 07 (AP/BBC): The US on Thursday imposed more sanctions on Iranian government officials in response to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, as protests have embroiled dozens of Iranian cities for weeks and evolved into the most widespread challenge to Iran's leadership in years.
US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated seven high-ranking leaders for financial penalties due to the shutdown of Iran's internet, repression of speech and violence inflicted on protesters and civilians. Iran's interior and communications ministers and several law enforcement leaders were targeted for sanctions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sanctions demonstrate the "United States stands with the brave citizens and the brave women of Iran who right now are demonstrating to secure their basic rights."
And Brian Nelson, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in announcing the sanctions that "the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly are vital to guaranteeing individual liberty and dignity."
US support of freedom in Iran, however, further undermines efforts to salvage the languishing 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, would provide Tehran with billions in sanctions relief in exchange for the agreeing to roll back its nuclear programme..
A BBC report adds: The mother of a teenage girl who died during protests in Iran has accused authorities of murdering her daughter.
In a video sent to US-funded Radio Farda, Nasrin Shakarami said she had seen injuries on her daughter's body which contradict an official statement.
Authorities say Nika Shakarami, 16, appears to have been thrown from a building, possibly by workmen.
Meanwhile, an official forensic report has said a woman whose death sparked the protests died from ill health.
The family of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, say she died as a result of being beaten by morality police.
She was detained on 13 September in Tehran for allegedly breaking the strict law requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf.
The police denied that she was mistreated and said she suffered a heart attack.
On Friday Iran's Forensic Medicine Organisation (FMO) issued a statement saying that tests showed Ms Amini died from multiple organ failure caused by cerebral hypoxia and not from being hit.
It said this was brought on by an underlying brain and heart condition. Ms Amini's family has previously insisted she was medically fit.
Rights groups say more than 150 people have been killed and thousands arrested since the protests began on 17 September. Nika Shakarami's death has become one of the highest profile cases of young people killed in the protests. She went missing in Tehran on 20 September after telling a friend she was being chased by police.