The United States designated Iran’s Ghezel Hesar Prison where hundreds of dissidents have been tortured and executed over the years.

“This prison was the site of gross violations of human rights, namely cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment of individuals in Iran who sought to exercise their right to freedom of expression,”US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.

Earlier this year, the United States also sanctioned officials from Iran’s Prisons Organization who played a role in suppressing widespread protests that followed the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.