More can be done to hold Iran accountable for rights abuses - US envoy

In an exclusive interview with Iran International, the US Acting Special Envoy for Iran cautioned that despite global attention, Tehran's repression of its own people has not ceased.

"We will not allow the international community to lose sight of what’s happening in Iran—there's always more that can be done to hold the regime accountable," Abram Paley told Samira Gharaei.

Speaking on the second anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini's killing, which sparked the nationwide "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement against the state, the American official stressed that the Iranian government's repressive tactics continue unchanged.

Paley condemned Tehran's failure to address such issues and called for attention to the ongoing suppression of dissent.

The official's comments were reinforced by a recent joint statement from the foreign ministers of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The statement called for action from the Islamic Republic, emphasizing that its continued inaction has only amplified global outrage. Amini's murder by the state's so-called morality police over the mandatory hijab has galvanized ongoing resistance both within Iran and across its diaspora.

Acknowledging the resilience of the Iranian people, Paley affirmed that the US and its allies remain unwavering in their support for the ongoing push for democracy.

He sharply criticized the Iranian government's censorship and control of information, stressing that keeping Iranians connected to the outside world is a US priority, especially as the regime intensifies its efforts to silence dissent.

While the Iranian diaspora has been critical of the Biden administration's foreign policy towards Tehran, Washington maintains that it has ramped up initiatives to expand access to information. That includes actively supporting tools like VPNs to help Iranians bypass the regime's internet restrictions.

The need to amplify the voices of the Iranian people was also highlighted by Paley as crucial in countering the regime's oppressive censorship. The officials emphasized that, in response to the Iranian people's demands, the US has led efforts to oust the Islamic Republic from international bodies, including the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Moreover, the US says that it continues to back the UN fact-finding mission investigating Iran's egregious human rights violations.

Paley told Iran International that further measures beyond diplomatic pressure are being considered, with additional sanctions in the pipeline. He also addressed the visa restrictions imposed on Iranian officials attending international events like the UN General Assembly, noting that Iranian representatives already face travel limitations, and efforts are underway to tighten those restrictions even more.