TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Ministry has announced sanctions against eleven American officials for their involvement in the suppression of pro-Palestinian protests that have swept university campuses across the United States.

On Wednesday, the ministry released a statement detailing the punitive measures, citing the Law on “Countering the Violation of Human Rights and Adventurous and Terrorist Activities of the United States in the Region” (2017). Article 5 of this law specifically targets individuals implicated in human rights violations, such as the suppression of peaceful demonstrations.

The list of sanctioned individuals includes:

1. William Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety of Georgia

2. Eddie Grier, Commanding Officer over Field Operations of Georgia

3. Linda J. Stump-Kurnick, Chief of the University of Florida Police Department

4. Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia

5. Jeffery Carroll, Executive Assistant Chief, Metropolitan Police Department

6. Karl Jacobson, Chief of New Haven Police Department

7. Shane Streepy, Assistant Chief of University of Texas Police Department (UTPD)

8. Michael Cox, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department

9. Scott Dunning, Central Division Chief of the Indiana University Police Department

10. Michael Thompson, Chief of the Arizona State University Police

11. John Brockie, Chief of Police at California State University, Long Beach

The statement highlighted that these individuals will face sanctions in accordance with Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the Sixth Section of the aforementioned law. These sanctions include the freezing of their assets within Iran’s jurisdiction, the blocking of their financial transactions in Iranian banks, and a ban on their entry into Iran.

“All relevant national organizations and institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran will implement the sanctions effectively, in line with regulations set by the appropriate authorities,” the statement read.

The pro-Palestinian protests began in mid-April at the University of California, Los Angeles, where students rallied against the Gaza conflict and called for divestment from Israel. Despite severe crackdowns by university authorities and law enforcement—including mass suspensions, evictions from campus housing, and arrests—the protests gained momentum and spread to other universities across the country. Disturbing footage has surfaced showing students, professors, and journalists being violently detained by police.

Recently, a renewed wave of protests has seen demonstrators establishing encampments on their campuses, with similar actions taking place at universities worldwide. This international solidarity movement underscores the widespread condemnation of the Gaza conflict and the aggressive responses to the protests in the United States.

The conflict in Gaza has led to devastating losses, with Israeli actions since October 7 resulting in the deaths of at least 37,925 Palestinians, primarily women and children, and injuring 87,141 others.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel's ongoing actions in the besieged enclave have drawn widespread global condemnation.

UN agencies warn that over one million Palestinians in Gaza could face severe starvation by mid-July as the hunger crisis worsens due to Israel's continued blockade of humanitarian aid.