WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is raising the possibility it couldimpose more sanctions on Iran to punish it for cracking down on protesters.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says sanctions are onetool the U.S. has to respond to Iran’s behavior. She says the U.S. is“watching reports very closely of any potential human rights abuses.” She’salluding to existing sanctions authorities that allow the U.S. to targetIran for human rights violations.
Nauert says the U.S. is expressing support for the Iranian people and fortheir right to free expression. She calls the protesters “brave” and“courageous.”
Iranians have taken to the streets in recent days in a number of cities toprotest the government’s handling of the economy. The demonstrations arethe largest seen in Iran since those that followed the disputed 2009presidential election.
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