US Senator John McCain on Wednesday called for “immediate sanctions” against Iran in the wake of a violent crackdown on protests, which left at least eight people dead.The remarks by the Arizona Republican were carried by the website of the Phoenix, Arizona-based news radio station, KTAR.
McCain said that the United States should provide “support to those people who are struggling for democracy and freedom” in Iran.
He noted that Iran’s police chief had threatened “no mercy” in crushing demonstrations, which have led to more than 500 arrests since Sunday.
Security forces used batons and teargas to disperse the protesters on Sunday, who used the Shiite holy day of Ashura to stage fresh anti-government demonstrations.
“It’s very clear that the Iranians are not interested in any meaningful agreement that would in any way restrain their continued development of nuclear weapons,” McCain said.
The Washington Post reported today that the Obama administration is weighing focused sanctions against members of Iran’s government rather than broad-based penalties that it fears could alienate the Iranian public.
US officials told Reuters that discussions over what sanctions to impose were likely to begin in earnest within the United Nations Security Council in mid-January.
Sources: KTAR news website, Washington Post, Reuters
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You keep up the good work you are doing. You may not see it on the news but the American people are with you and the Iranian people 100 percent.