U.S. Department of State building [AFP=Yonhap News]

The U.S. Donald Trump administration announced on the 18th (local time) that it will impose visa sanctions on 18 Iranian officials and telecommunications industry executives for suppressing the freedom of expression of Iranian anti-government protesters.

This measure is interpreted as a further strengthening of pressure on Iran, as the U.S. has been expanding its military presence in the Middle East and increasing pressure through various sanctions since resuming nuclear negotiations with Iran.

The State Department criticized the Iranian regime for "carrying out violence and repression against tens of thousands of peaceful protesters" in relation to the anti-government protests that occurred in Iran from December last year to January this year, and announced the new sanctions.

The State Department pointed out, "The Iranian regime implemented an almost complete nationwide internet blackout, unprecedented in scope and duration, which severely limited independent documentation of abusive acts and cut off the Iranian people from the world."

Accordingly, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the State Department is implementing visa restrictions on 18 Iranian officials and telecommunications industry executives, as well as their immediate family members.

The individuals are those deemed to have conspired or participated in serious human rights violations, including suppressing the Iranian people's freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly.

The State Department stated, "The United States will continue to support the freedom of expression of the Iranian people," and added, "We will continue to use all available means to expose and hold accountable Iranian regime officials and other individuals for their human rights abuses."

Iran and the U.S., which resumed nuclear negotiations on the 6th in Oman after an eight-month hiatus, continued negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 17th, but failed to reach a tangible agreement.

Both sides plan to continue follow-up negotiations, prioritizing diplomatic solutions.

Amid this, there is a growing atmosphere of military tension between the U.S. and Iran, with the U.S. deploying military forces in the Middle East targeting Iran, and Iran conducting large-scale maritime exercises, including missile launches.