Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei 's inner circle imposed with US sanctions

Nine people close to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, which includes his chief of staff, one of his sons and the head of the judiciary have been imposed with sanctions by the United States on November 4. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement that the US is targeting 9 unelected officials who surround Khamenei. A senior administration official said in a call with reporters that the sanctions are designed to impose more limits on Khamenei's inner circle. Khamenei's chief of staff Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani as well as Vahid Haghanian have been targeted, who the department said has been referred to as the Supreme Leader's right hand. Ebrahim Raisi, who leads Iran's judiciary, and Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei's second son, were also sanctioned, Treasury said. The Treasury Department is also blacklisting Iran's Armed Forces General Staff. The move coincides with the 40th anniversary of Iran's seizure of the US embassy in Tehran. The US sanctions block every US-controlled property or interests held by those targeted and prohibit anyone or any entities in the United States from dealing with those sanctioned.

Read: Iranians Chant 'Death To America' As They Marked US Embassy Takeover

Responding to the sanctions, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi called the sanctions a sign of the desperation and inability of this regime in benefiting from a diplomatic and logical approach to important international issues.

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Americans held as hostages in Iran need to be released: Pompeo

Tensions between the US and Iran rose when 50 Americans were held hostage at the embassy for 444 days. The same odds were repeated when the US withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord and reinstated sanctions to choke oil exports and isolate the economy. At the same time, Trump has shown his willingness for diplomacy by plans to meet Iran's top leaders. Moreover, the US State Department announced a new reward of up to $20 million for information that leads to the location, recovery, and return of Robert Levinson. Levinson is a former FBI agent who was last seen in Iran.

Read: Iran Marks 1979 Takeover Of US Embassy, Hostage Crisis

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement to media that Iran must release all missing and wrongfully detained Americans and that the US will not rest until they are reunited with their families.

Read: Iran Students Seize US Embassy In Tehran