Tuesday, July 21, 2026

U.S. slams travel ban on top Iranian government officials, family members

The Iranian government has repeatedly dismissed reports of massive killings of protesters.

• January 30, 2026
Donald Trump official potrait
Donald Trump

The U.S., on Friday, slammed top Iranian government officials and their family members with a travel ban over the brutal repression and clampdown on protesters by state agents.

The U.S. Department of State announced the move in a post on X on Friday, citing the ongoing crackdown on Iranian protesters.

“As the people of Iran continue to fight for their basic rights, @SecRubio took action this week to revoke the privilege of Iranian senior officials and their family members to be in the United States,” the U.S. Department of State’s post reads.

It added, “Those who profit from the Iranian regime’s brutal oppression are not welcome to benefit from our immigration system.”

Iran’s staggering inflation hit 42 per cent, while its currency, the rial, plummeted to an all-time low of 1.4 million rials per dollar, sparking protests on December 28.

For weeks, merchants, traders, and university students took to the streets, disrupting commercial and public activities across the country amid an internet blackout and a brutal police clampdown.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency on Friday reported that “Day 33 of Iran’s protests: 6,479 confirmed deaths, including 6,092 protesters and 118 children.”

It added, “17,091 cases remain under investigation. 11,020 injured, 11,027 summonses, and 660 protest incidents nationwide, as repression continues and the EU designates the IRGC a terrorist organization.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian government has repeatedly dismissed reports of massive killings of protesters as an “exaggeration,” admitting that “only hundreds” were killed during the protests sparked by an economic crisis that has lasted for two weeks.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s minister of foreign affairs, in an interview with Fox News a few days ago, blamed foreign “terrorists elements” for infiltrating the protests and killing people to get American President Donald Trump to “intervene.”

He said, “Those claims are baseless. You know, there is no proof of that. The number of deaths are only hundreds. The exact figure will be annouced very soon. Hundreds of people. I certainly deny the numbers and figures they have said. It is an exaggeration. It is a misinformation campaign.”

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Bauchi has arrested Clement Anthony

States

Bauchi resident nabbed for murder

The police command in Bauchi has arrested Clement Anthony, 40, for fatally shooting Jacob Bature in the Unguwar Ngas area of Inkil.

Road crash in Abeokuta

States

Two killed in Abeokuta road crash

The Federal Road Safety Corps says two persons died in a road crash involving a Lexus car and a motorcycle at the Leme area of Abeokuta.

First Lady, Remi Tinubu (Credit: Akwa Ibom state government)

Abuja

Tinubu’s wife condemns Nigerians’ disinterest in RHI Green Nigeria Community challenge

Mrs Tinubu urged Nigerians to participate in the second phase of the programme before it officially closes by December 20.

Civil servants (Photo credit: Business day)

Economy

Federal civil servants say wage award delay worsening economic hardship

Civil servants have urged the federal government to immediately pay the outstanding two months of the N35,000 wage award.

Ortega with wife

World

President Ortega bans elections in Nicaragua after 20 years in power

Mr Ortega has been Nicaragua’s president since 2007. His previous presidential term was from 1985 to 1990.