Pompeo Announces New Sanctions on Iranian Judges, More Visa Restrictions

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced a new round of US sanctions against Iran on Thursday, and also a series of new visa restrictions targeting the family members of officials.

The new sanctions are mostly individual sanctions targeting members of Iran’s security services, and in particular judges who are responsible for overseeing trials against anti-government protesters.

With Iran claiming that the violence during the gas price protests was fueled by the US, the government has been throwing the book at violent offenders, and US officials are saying it is particular oppression against the innocent protesters.

Pompeo also defended the new visa restrictions, saying that “thugs killing people’s children will not be allowed to send their own children to study in the United States of America.” It’s not clear how often relatives of officials try to apply, nor is it immediately clear if this stops at just children, or covers extended family and distant relatives in the new restrictions.