The United States of America announced, on Thursday, September 22, 2022, the imposition of sanctions on the morality police in Iran, on charges of "abusing women and using violence against them," following the death of the girl Mahsa Amini (22 years old) who died in police custody on September 16 of the current month.

Washington also held the Iranian police responsible for Amini's death, which led to widespread protests across the country, accusing the Iranian morality police of violating the rights of peaceful protesters.

At the same time, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it imposed sanctions on seven senior military and security officials in Iran, including the commander of the Iranian army's ground forces.

The department said that among the seven sanctioned officials are the head of the morality police Mohammad Rostami, the commander of the army's ground forces Kiumars Heydari, and the intelligence minister Esmail Khatib.

The department added that "As a result of today's actions, all property and interests of these individuals subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the Treasury Department must be notified of them."

For her part, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement yesterday, Thursday, "Mahsa Amini was a brave woman, her death in custody of the morality police was another brutal act by the Iranian regime's security forces against its people."

She added, "We strongly condemn this disgraceful act, and call on the Iranian government to end the violence it inflicts on women as well as its ongoing violent campaign against freedom of expression and assembly."