The United States this week will impose additional punitive measures targeting those involved in Iran's violent crackdown on anti-regime protests that have erupted across the Middle Eastern country following the death of Mahsa Amini, President Joe Biden said Monday.
Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdistan Iranian, died Sept. 16 after being detained days earlier by the country's so-called morality police known as Guidance Patrol on allegations of violating the regime's strict hijab laws. Witnesses claim she was beaten by the arresting officers.
In response to her death, Iranians throughout the country have taken to the streets in anti-regime protests that have been met with bloody resistance. According to the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights organization, more than 133 protesters have been killed including more than 40 on Friday alone in the southeastern city of Zahedan.
In a statement Monday, Biden said he was "gravely concerned" about the reports of the "intensifying violent crackdown down on peaceful protesters."
