The U.S. released the 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, assessing with respect to Iran that "the government's human rights record remained extremely poor and worsened in several key areas". In accompanying remarks, Secretary Pompeo indicated that "last year, the regime [in Iran] killed over twenty people and arrested thousands without due process just for protesting their rights. The government banned media outlets from covering the demonstrations. This continues the pattern of cruelty that the regime has inflicted upon the Iranian people for the last four decades".