Image Credits - www.iranintl.com
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has proposed that Esmaeil Khatib, a U.S.-sanctioned figure, continue as Iran’s Minister of Intelligence as he forms his new administration. The nomination, which will be presented to the Iranian Parliament for approval, has sparked significant controversy due to Khatib’s history of human rights abuses.
According to IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News, Pezeshkian’s nomination is part of his efforts to consolidate power and shape his administration. Khatib, who was first sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department on September 9, 2022, was recognized for his role in supporting or acting on behalf of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). A subsequent round of sanctions on September 22, 2022, expanded the designation to include serious human rights abuses, listing Khatib alongside Iran’s Morality Police and its senior leaders.
The U.S. sanctions specifically target Khatib for his involvement in significant human rights violations, particularly related to the repression of dissent and the suppression of civil liberties. The sanctions were imposed as part of a broader effort to hold accountable those involved in severe human rights abuses against Iranian citizens and residents.
Khatib has been a controversial figure not only due to the sanctions but also because of his outspoken threats against the media and international critics. In a November 2022 interview on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s website, Khatib threatened the London-based Iran International news network, which had reported extensively on Iran’s internal affairs. He declared that “England will face consequences for its actions that have jeopardized Iran’s security, and the Iran International network is deemed a terrorist organization by Iran, with its members and associates to be pursued.”
The Iran International network had to relocate its offices to Washington, D.C., in response to safety concerns after the UK authorities could not ensure the protection of its staff during Iran’s nationwide Woman, Life, Freedom protests. These protests, ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody, resulted in the deaths of over 500 protesters and thousands of arrests.
The U.S. has also imposed sanctions on Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, citing its support for terrorist groups and its involvement in human rights abuses against the Iranian populace. Khatib’s potential continuation as Intelligence Minister reflects ongoing tensions between Iran and the international community regarding human rights and governance issues.