The White House on Monday called for Iran to be held accountable over the latest executions in the country while expressing condemnations over the issuing of additional death sentences as Tehran continues to be blasted over the hangings.
“We condemn the executions of Mohammed Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini and the additional executions announced today. We join with partners around the world calling for an immediate cessation of these abuses,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan tweeted, referring to the Saturday executions of two men as well as fresh death sentences announced on Monday.
Iran doubled its execution count to four after hanging Karami and Hosseini on charges of killing a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Basij paramilitary force during antigovernment protests in Karaj, near Tehran.
Amid fierce international backlash and two days following the executions, the Islamic republic handed death sentences to Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi for “moharabeh,” or “waging war against God,” after they were similarly found guilty of killing a Basij member in the central province of Isfahan.
“Iran will be held accountable,” Sullivan affirmed.
European countries, including Norway, Germany, and France, summoned the Iranian envoys to their countries following the execution of protestors and expressed their stanch rejection of the Islamic republic’s stance.
The US also blasted Iran on Saturday for the executions in connection with protests and labeled the questionable trials behind the death sentences as a crucial part of the regime’s ongoing efforts to suppress demonstrations.
Iranian opposition Telegram channels published videos in the cities of Tehran, Arak, and Karaj – where the executions were carried out – of people taking to the streets and chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to protest the executions after the news emerged.
At least 519 protesters, including 70 children, have been killed and over 19,000 have been arrested since the protests began almost four months ago, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Tuesday.
Source » rudaw