Secretary of State has recently stripped Iranian senior officials and their family members of their U.S. travel privileges, pointing to the regime’s continuing oppression.
The regime of Iran’s Supreme Leader has been accused of killing over 6,200 protesters since December 28, along with nearly 17,100 arrests, while internet access remains cut off, per the Human Rights Activists News Agency ().
“As the people of Iran keep fighting for their fundamental rights, [Rubio] acted this week to revoke the right of Iranian senior officials and their families to be in the United States,” the State Department stated in an .
“Individuals who gain from the Iranian regime’s harsh oppression are not permitted to take advantage of our immigration system.”
Beyond potential civil rights abuses in Iran, tensions have escalated between Khamenei and President as the U.S. works to reach a nuclear agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi cautioned on Wednesday that the country’s military is “ready — with their — to respond swiftly and forcefully to ANY aggression against our cherished land, air, or sea.”
Araghchi asserted that Iran has “always embraced” a mutually beneficial, fair, and equitable nuclear deal that would safeguard Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology and ensure no nuclear weapons are developed.
Trump responded on Truth Social, cautioning that a “massive” naval fleet was moving toward Iran “quickly and with force if needed.”
“Time is pressing, it’s truly critical!” Trump posted. “As I told Iran before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ resulted in major damage to Iran. The next strike will be much worse! Don’t let that happen again.”
The president noted Thursday evening that it would be “excellent” if the U.S. didn’t have to deploy the military fleet.
The State Department on Wednesday also the death penalty handed down to 19-year-old Saleh Mohammadi, a decorated Iranian wrestler who was arrested while peacefully protesting the regime earlier this month.
Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.