News

Today’s announcement identified individuals and entities being sanctioned for their involvement in censorship, including attacks on foreign websites, tracking domestic Internet activities by opposition activists, and restricting publications and satellite television.

Those sanctioned include Ali Fazli, deputy commander of the Basij militia, which has launched attacks against websites; Reza Taghipour, minister of communications and information technology, who has been responsible for jamming satellite television and blocking Internet connectivity; and Rasool Jalili, who has been involved in attempting to acquire Internet monitoring equipment, according to the statement.

Entities covered include the Center to Investigate Organized Crime, which the U.S. says helps the government censor websites and identify opposition activists, and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance along with the Press Supervisory Board.