The U.S. sanctioned “six senior employees of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Iranian state-run media corporation that has broadcast hundreds of forced confessions of Iranian, dual national and international detainees in Iran”. The State Department asserted that “IRIB acts not as an objective media outlet but rather as a key tool in the Iranian government’s mass suppression and censorship campaign… The U.S. is steadfast in our commitment to supporting the Iranian people protesting nationwide and demanding accountability for their government”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the sanctions, countering: “Allowing terrorist networks and media outlets to make mischief against the Iranian nation and sanctioning IRIB and Press TV to block Iran’s views from being conveyed to the world is the continuation of the American administration’s blatant violation of the Iranian nation’s rights”.