Iran must face consequences for protest crackdown, White House says

Hundreds of protesters have been killed since Mahsa Amini's death on September 16

Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo

Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo

At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo

A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP

Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP

Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP

A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP

A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP

Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP

Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP

A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo

Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo

Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters

Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo

Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo

Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo

The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo

Iran must face consequences for its crackdown against anti-government demonstrations, the White House said on Monday, after Tehran announced it had sentenced a protester to death.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration was "deeply concerned" about the sentence, and reports of sham trials and mass arrests of people protesting against a government that "systematically denies basic dignity and freedom to its people."

The EU has issued a second round of sanctions in less than a month against Iran over its brutal response to the nationwide protests.

“The human rights abuses inflicted by its government must not go without consequence,” Mr Sullivan said.

The protester, who has not been identified, was sentenced to death for “setting fire to a government building, disturbing public order, assembly and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security”, as well as being “an enemy of God” and of “corruption on earth”, the judiciary website Mizan Online said.

It is the first known case of a protester being condemned since demonstrations began on September 16, after the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, a student who was killed while in the custody of the country’s "morality police.

Amini was accused of not wearing her headscarf properly.

Her death sparked nationwide protests and prompted women across Iran to rally in solidarity.

“Jin, jiyan, azadi”, which translates to “woman, life, freedom", has become a common refrain on the streets of Iranian cities.

Iran’s security apparatus has clamped down hard on protesters, prompting outrage from western nations.

More than 330 protesters have been killed in nearly two months, according to the HRANA news agency.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House last week. Bloomberg

“The United States, standing with our partners and allies around the world, will continue to pursue accountability for those responsible for these abuses through sanctions and other means," Mr Sullivan said.

The Biden administration has been vocal in its support of demonstrators.

"Don't worry, we're gonna free Iran," US President Joe Biden said during a campaign stop in California this month. "They’re gonna free themselves pretty soon.”

On Monday, the EU announced heavy sanctions against 29 people and three entities within Iran.

Among them is Mohammad Rostami, the head of the country’s morality police, and Col Haj Ahmed Mirzaei, the chief of its Tehran branch.

This is not the first time nationwide protests have rocked Iran.

In 2009, thousands of young people took to the streets to protest against then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Green Movement, as it was called, lasted several months.

In 2019, protesters rose up against the government over the increasing fuel costs.