US sanctions Iranian supreme leader's 'inner circle'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. on Monday sanctioned nine individuals and Iran's Armed Forces General Staff in a move targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's "inner circle."

The designations include Mojtaba Khamenei, the Iranian leader's son, whom the Treasury Department said is being blacklisted "for representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position."

Also designated are Ebrahim Raisi, the head of the Iranian judiciary, Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, Khamenei's Chief of Staff, and Vahid Haghanian, a top aide to Khamenei.

"Today the Treasury Department is targeting the unelected officials who surround Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and implement his destabilizing policies," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.