Overview

Hossein Rahimi is the U.S.-designated police chief of Tehran of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF). On October 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Rahimi as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for his role in suppressing dissent throughout Iran and acting on behalf of the LEF.“Treasury Sanctions Iranian Leaders Responsible for Internet Shutdown and Violent Crackdown on Peaceful Protests,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0994.

Rahimi is a veteran law enforcement official, having formerly served as the police chief of the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan. Rahimi was appointed as the LEF police chief in Tehran on August 7, 2017, assuming the role from Hossein Sajedinia, Iran’s current deputy commander of the LEF.“General Rahimi Appointed as Tehran’s New Police Chief: Spokesman,” Tasnim News Agency, August 7, 2017, https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/08/07/1485688/general-rahimi-appointed-as-tehran-s-new-police-chief-spokesman. The LEF is tasked with subduing protests in Iran and is notorious for using violence against protestors which has resulted in thousands of deaths.“Treasury Sanctions Iranian Leaders Responsible for Internet Shutdown and Violent Crackdown on Peaceful Protests,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0994. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Rahimi oversees Iran’s Guidance Patrol, or morality police, in their enforcement of hijab compliance throughout Tehran. Accordingly, Rahimi has been at the forefront of the “Nazer” (observe) plan in Tehran. The plan reportedly placed the morality police throughout Tehran to watch and punish women accused of improperly wearing the hijab.“Treasury Sanctions Iranian Leaders Responsible for Internet Shutdown and Violent Crackdown on Peaceful Protests,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0994. In February 2018, amidst anti-hijab protests, Rahimi reiterated that Iranian women protesting Iran’s compulsory hijab rule will face a zero-tolerance policy from police. Rahimi was quoted saying, “The police will not tolerate this kind of behavior, and will deal with protesters firmly.”“Tehran Police Chief Warns Hijab Protesters Of Zero Tolerance,” Radio Farda, February 28, 2018, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-police-chief-hijab-protests-zero-tolerance/29067914.html.

The LEF are one component of Iran’s extensive security apparatus, which among others, includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij. The IRGC is an Iranian government agency tasked with defending the regime against internal and external threats, of which the Basij is a paramilitary organization charged with channeling popular support for the Iranian regime.“Iran-related Designations and Designation Update; Non-Proliferation Designation Update; Burma-related Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221006. In September 2022, the IRGC and the Basij joined in violently suppressing protests that erupted after the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in custody after being detained by Tehran’s morality police, the Guidance Patrol, earlier in the month. The Guidance Patrol sent Amini to a detention center to undergo re-education when they claimed she was not wearing a hijab properly. She died three days later. In response, protests erupted across the country against Iran’s theocratic rule. On September 22, the IRGC issued a statement of support for Iranian police in combating the protests and accused protesters of sedition. At least 201 protesters were killed since the protests began after confrontations with Iranian security forces, but information has been limited due to disrupted and limited Internet access throughout the country.Arsalan Shahla, “Iran Launches Artillery Against Militants in Northern Iraq,” Bloomberg, September 24, 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-24/iran-launches-artillery-against-militants-in-northern-iraq; “Exclusive: IRGC Commanders’ Families Placed in Tehran ‘Safe House,” Iran Wire, September 26, 2022, https://iranwire.com/en/iran/107958-exclusive-irgc-commanders-families-placed-in-tehran-safe-house; “IRGC will not hesitate to target origin of any anti-Iran operation wherever it may be: General,” Press TV, September 27, 2022, https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/09/27/689915/IRGC-will-not-hesitate-target-origin-any-anti-Iran-operation-General; Caitlin McFall, “The Guardian Patrol sent Amini to a detention center to undergo re-education when they claimed she was not wearing a hijab properly. She died three days later.,” Fox News, September 24, 2022, https://www.foxnews.com/world/protestors-clash-revolutionary-guard-northern-iran-torch-irgc-base-reports; “Iran’s Guards Break Their Silence, Warn Protesters,” Iran International, September 22, 2022, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202209229946; Parisa Hafezi, “Iranians keep up protests over Mahsa Amini death despite mounting fatalities,” Reuters, October 12, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranians-keep-up-protests-over-mahsa-amini-death-despite-growing-death-toll-2022-10-12.

On October 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Rahimi as an SDN for acting on behalf of the LEF.“Iran-related Designations and Designation Update; Non-Proliferation Designation Update; Burma-related Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 6, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20221006. Canada followed suit, and on October 31, Ottawa added Rahimi to its sanctions list for his role in participating in gross and systematic human rights violations in Iran.“Canada imposes new sanctions against Iranian regime,” Government of Canada, October 31, 2022, https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-imposes-new-sanctions-against-iranian-regime.html.