The United States announced sanctions on Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and several senior Iranian officials, citing their alleged involvement in deadly crackdowns on anti-government protests in recent weeks. The decision was made public on Friday, according to a statement from the U.S. Treasury Department.

The Treasury said Momeni oversees Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), which Washington identified as a key agency responsible for the deaths of thousands of peaceful demonstrators. U.S. officials accused Iranian security forces of using widespread violence and repressive tactics during the protests, resulting in a large number of civilian casualties.

According to the U.S. government, the sanctions aim to hold those responsible for human rights abuses accountable and to send a message against the suppression of peaceful dissent in Iran.