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10/26/2022 07:13 PM EDT
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson
Washington, D.C.
2:02 p.m. EDT
MR PATEL: Good afternoon, everybody. I have two very brief things for you all at the top, and then happy to dive right in.
[] So first, today the United States designated two Moldovan oligarchs – Vladimir Plahotniuc, and Ilan Shor, and their networks, in connection with significant acts of corruption and interference in Moldova’s election. The United States continues to support Moldova’s efforts to counter corruption, reform the justice sector, promote accountability, and strengthen the independence and transparency of its democratic institutions. These designations reaffirm our commitment to tackling corruption as a first-order national security threat and to promoting accountability for systemic efforts to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions and elections, including the Kremlin’s election interference operations in Moldova.
The U.S. will continue to use all available tools to disrupt kleptocratic interests within Moldova and threatening its democracy from abroad.
[] One more thing. It has been 40 days since the death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini in the custody of Iran’s so-called morality police. We join her family and the Iranian people for a day of mourning. In the past 40 days, Iranian authorities have killed hundreds more in a brutal crackdown to suppress peaceful protests sparked by Mahsa’s death, including many more young women and girls. Their bravery in continuing to lead protests in the face of this crackdown is an inspiration to the world.
Today, we are announcing a joint action between the State Department and Treasury Department, designating 14 individuals and three entities using five different authorities. These newly sanctioned individuals and entities represent a range of those responsible for Iran’s repression. There are senior leaders of the security apparatus, mid-level officials who have believed that they could commit abuses against their neighbors while preserving their anonymity, and organizations and individuals who have attacked the Iranian people’s ability to use the internet to communicate with each other and the world.
Peaceful protests by large numbers of Iranians are now well into their second month, as is the Iranian regime’s attempts to violently suppress them. The regime’s ongoing violent crackdown, pervasive surveillance of citizens, and disruption of communications are the latest reminder of the Islamic Republic’s flagrant disregard for the fundamental freedoms and human rights of Iranians.
We will continue to look at the tools at our disposal and take action to support the people of Iran as they peacefully protest for their human rights in the face of brutal repression.
Matt, if you want to kick us off.
QUESTION: Thanks. I didn’t have anything to start, but since you went on at – a little bit at length about Iran, I will ask you this: The other day, Ned was quite reluctant – in fact, loath to and would not – ascribe any motivate or – to – or ascribe what – describe what the calls that you’re seeing from the protesters are. Are you at a point now where you’re able to say with some certainty that you know what the protesters are demanding?
MR PATEL: So I don’t have anything new or different to offer from what Ned said. Iran’s leadership is facing a problem of its own making, and it continues to accuse the U.S. of instigating these protests. And let’s be clear: These protests are about the Iranian people and their demands. And we also are trying to be very careful to not play into the regime’s disinformation about the United States being behind these protests. And our fallacy is – policy is designed around finding practical ways to support the Iranian people with the tools that this administration has in its arsenal to support the Iranian people in the face of the brutal, violent crackdown, the internet disruptions, and the denial of basic human rights, and the state-sponsored violence that we’re seeing.
QUESTION: So it’s fair to say, then, that your reluctance to give a description or to say what you believe the Iranian protesters want is because you’re concerned that by doing that, that you will play into the government’s allegations that the U.S. is behind them?
MR PATEL: Well —
QUESTION: Is that the entire – is that it? Or is it because –
MR PATEL: I think the key takeaway here, Matt, is that no one – not myself, not Ned, no one in the U.S. Government – should claim or can claim to speak for these protesters; only they can do that. And we, our role is to continue to take steps and take practical efforts to use the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable for what we are seeing happen across Iran.
QUESTION: But I don’t think anyone is asking you to speak for the protesters. But what I’m going to ask – what I’m asking you to do is to say what your understanding is of what their demands are.
MR PATEL: Again, Matt, I —
QUESTION: I don’t understand how that’s speaking for them. If you can –
MR PATEL: I appreciate your question, and I understand what you’re asking, but that is not for us to characterize. What we are seeing is the Iranian people demand basic human rights, rights of expression, as this started in the death of Mahsa Amini, and we’re seeing the Iranian people make their voices heard. But I don’t have any other specific assessment to offer.
QUESTION: Vedant —
QUESTION: Iran.
MR PATEL: Let me go to Guita, Said, and then I’ll come to you.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: Yes, Vedant on Iran, on this issue.
MR PATEL: I’ll come back to you; I promise. Go ahead.
QUESTION: Vedant, if you were to describe what is happening in Iran in just one word, what word would that be?
MR PATEL: I think it would be improper to try and categorize this in one word.
QUESTION: So “improper” is the word? (Laughter.)
MR PATEL: That’s not the word that I am trying to use either. What this is about is the Iranian people making their voices heard, standing up for basic human rights, standing up against the state-sponsored violence against women that we’re seeing all across Iran. In the last 40 days alone, we have seen security authorities killing hundreds of peaceful protestors who were outraged by Mahsa Amini’s death, including many other young women and girls. And their bravery continuing to lead these protests in the face of this crackdown is an inspiration to many across the world. And so what this administration is going to do is going to continue to collaborate with our allies and partners and continue to take steps to support the Iranian people and hold them accountable for these egregious human rights abuses and for their violent crackdown that we’re seeing.
QUESTION: What other way is there to support them besides the sanctioning the forces that are suppressing them and giving them access to technology?
MR PATEL: We continue to have – we continue to have a number of items in our toolbelt. And I would not minimize the sanctions and the actions that this administration has already taken. Targeted sanctions impose real costs on individuals and the country writ large, as well as the organizations that we’ve designated. It further isolates them on the global stage, and it imposes real costs. I will also note that targeting individuals and entities – they are also denied access to U.S. financial systems and the financial systems of other allies and partners depending on other countries who are designating them. So these things have real consequences.
QUESTION: Is there —
QUESTION: One more, sorry.
QUESTION: Sure. Please.
MR PATEL: Go ahead.
QUESTION: While this is going on with the demonstrators in Iran, Morad Tahbaz has been taken back to prison. He’s both a U.S. and British national as well in addition to Iranian. Is the State Department aware? Is the State Department going to – have you made any contact?
MR PATEL: So I’ve seen those reports, Guita, and I don’t have any confirmation or assessment to offer from here, but we continue to work night and day to secure the release of our wrongfully detained citizens. And to be quite clear, as we’ve said before from here, Iran is unjustly detaining innocent Americans and others and should release them immediately. And securing their release is one of our utmost priorities, and we call upon Iran to make urgent progress towards the release of wrongfully detained American citizens.
Said.
QUESTION: Thank you. Thank you, Vedant. You mentioned hundreds killed. Do we have a figure, an accurate figure, and how do you collect these figures?
MR PATEL: Well, Said, I think before when we’ve spoken to the death toll that we’ve seen, we’ve cited some reporting that we’ve seen from various human rights organizations and NGOs. I don’t have a specific cite for you today, but I’m happy to check and get back to you on that.
QUESTION: And second, to the best of your knowledge, has there been, like, a manifesto or a statement issued by whoever is organizing these protests with a set of demands, saying one, two, three, four?
MR PATEL: As far as I’m aware, Said, I’ve not seen any specific manifesto, as you call it; but, again, what we’re seeing quite clearly in the streets, in Iran across the country, is students, women, journalists, teachers making their voices heard, standing up for basic human rights, basic rights of expression, basic dignities. And what we’re also seeing is the Iranian regime violently crack down on these protests, killing their citizens, killing women and young girls, students, things of the like.
QUESTION: I understand. I know in this case your predicament: You want to help these protestors achieve their goals, but you don’t have an address to send this – whatever aid or whatever help you can provide to them. In the absence of such a thing —
MR PATEL: Said, we are helping. We are taking —
QUESTION: Okay. Well, maybe you can share —
MR PATEL: We have taken over the – since – over the course of these two months that these protests have started, we have taken direct, concrete actions to support Iranian protesters, starting first, I believe, earlier this month designating the so?called morality police, designating other entities of Iran’s security apparatus, issuing general licenses to allow the easier flow of communication not just among Iranians but also between Iran and the outside world. And today we have designated 14 individuals, three entities, and using five designations across the interagency. So we are taking action, and we’re helping how we can.
QUESTION: Do you have a comment on a terrorist attack today in Shiraz that killed 15 worshippers – of Iranians?
MR PATEL: I’ve not seen that specific report today, Said, but of course any loss of life is heartbreaking, and we send our condolences. And we’re continuing to see if there’s any additional information.
Anything else on Iran before we move away? All right.
Simon.
[]QUESTION: Moving on to North Korea.
MR PATEL: Sure.
QUESTION: So in Deputy Secretary Sherman’s visit at – that’s going on at the moment, the – South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Cho said after the meeting, the trilateral meeting, we’ve agreed – “We agreed that an unparalleled scale of response would be necessary if North Korea pushes ahead with a seventh nuclear test.” Is that language something that – is there something that has been agreed in that meeting? What is – what do they mean by “unparalleled?” Is that something that the U.S. signs up to? And separately, do you have any hope of getting China or Russia to sign up for new UN sanctions on North Korea?
MR PATEL: Well, Simon, I’m not going to categorize or try to speak for the foreign ministry of our partners in the Republic of Korea. But I think you saw Deputy Secretary Sherman speak while also on her travels and was quite clear that this kind of provocation and aggressive action, threatening action, is – we view it as irresponsible, and it is not only unsafe but these missile violations – these missile launches violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
And so we will continue to do what we have been. We’re going to consult with our allies and partners. As you know, Deputy Secretary Sherman is in the region. And as it relates to other members – permanent members of the Security Council, it is of course our hope that they will join us in holding the DPRK accountable. But even as recently as earlier this month, we did not see that from the PRC and Russia, and instead we saw parroting of disinformation that the U.S. provocations was somehow behind these launches, which is just absolutely not true.
QUESTION: And you just talked about the – about missile launches, but you’ve also been warning of the nuclear test. Specifically on the question of if North – the North Koreans conduct that test and what the consequences would be, is there something that you’re actually able to say on that?
MR PATEL: Simon, I’m of course not going to read out specifically the various tools in our toolbelt that we have to hold the DPRK accountable, but we have a number of tools available. Earlier this month – and I would say we have tools available across the interagency, not just within this department. Earlier this month you saw our colleagues at the Pentagon take part in joint military exercises with – both bilaterally and trilaterally in response to some of these launches that we’ve seen. And so – also, I believe, earlier this month we designated additional individuals and entities in response to the irresponsible activities that we’re seeing from the DPRK.
So this is all to say we continue to have tools at our disposal to hold the DPRK accountable. But broadly speaking, a seventh nuclear test, should it happen, would constitute a grave escalatory action and seriously threaten regional stability, international stability, security in the region, and it would also undermine the global nonproliferation regime and efforts that are being undertaken. So we are going to continue to collaborate closely with our allies and partners, but I don’t have any – I don’t have a litany – a line item list for you of potential actions that we could take.
Still on DPRK or moving away?
QUESTION: No, moving.
MR PATEL: Anything else on the region before we move away?
All right, Leon.
QUESTION: Okay. And I’m sorry because I have —
MR PATEL: No.
QUESTION: — two questions and I’m going to have you jump continents.
MR PATEL: You’re all good.
QUESTION: (Laughter.) But I guess you’re used to that.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
[]QUESTION: Very quick question on Nigeria.
MR PATEL: Sure.
QUESTION: I think it was yesterday or the day before – I’m confused – there was a Travel Advisory for the – not the evacuation but asking personnel, nonessential, to leave —
MR PATEL: Sure.
QUESTION: — because of the threats. Has that now – that was on a voluntary basis. Has that become compulsory now?
MR PATEL: That has not. That has not. So as you all know, the department overall continues to adjust and make assessments on its posture at our various embassies and missions and consulates throughout the world in line with local security, the environment, and other factors such as public health. In the case of Nigeria, yesterday the department did approve the authorized departure, which is the technical term in this situation, for family members and non-emergency U.S. government officials in Abuja. We made this decision for voluntary departure out of an abundance of caution related to an elevated risk of terror attacks, specifically in Abuja. But it is still at the authorized departure level. I don’t have any —
QUESTION: So no changes?
MR PATEL: No changes.
QUESTION: It’s not – it’s still voluntary?
MR PATEL: Correct.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR PATEL: Correct.
[]QUESTION: And then, so totally unrelated, on Haiti. So it’s now been more or less two weeks since the call for – Haitian Government called for a potential international force or help from the international community. There’s been discussions on it. I understand obviously that it takes time to set up such a force. But what we’re hearing everywhere, including in this house, in France, elsewhere is that really nobody is wanting to take the lead of this potential force if there were to be one. So I’d like to ask you: are you – is – are you clearly, in the United States, saying that you would not lead that force and waiting for another country to come up, if that be the case? Or rather, that you are not inclined really to go down that road – and nobody else seems to want to go down that road – and will really beef up security through helping the national police in Haiti and what have you?
MR PATEL: Sure. So a couple of things, Leon. First, these conversations and the diplomatic engagements around this are ongoing. We continue to work closely with our Mexican partners on a draft resolution, and those conversations continue to be ongoing. And our ambassador in New York, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, spoke to this as recently as yesterday, and we are continuing to work night and day on this and do so in a way that addresses the concerns raised not just by the Haitian Government, but also the secretary-general.
On the United States’s role, as I’ve said previously, the U.S. will consider the most effective means to support, enable, and resource this mission. As I’ve said before, we are proposing a limited and carefully scoped, non-UN mission led by a partner country, and we will work with partners and other council members to set defined and specific parameters for the mission.
And at the beginning of your question you said that it has been two weeks, and I want to again note that we have taken action to address the dire humanitarian concerns in Haiti. We have, I believe, about a week and a half ago, over the weekend, a U.S.-Canada joint operation delivered vital security-related equipment to Port-au-Prince. We also, I believe earlier this month, imposed visa restrictions and took other designations against Haitian officials and other individuals involved in street gangs and some of the activities that have contributed to the humanitarian crisis we are seeing in Haiti right now. Prior to that, Assistant Secretary Nichols led an interagency delegation to Port-au-Prince, where he met not only with Haitian Government leaders, but members of civil society, members of the private sector.
So this is something that we continue to remain deeply engaged on. Also to – of note is the UN Security Council resolution that successfully passed last week. But these processes take time and we’re continuing to work through them diligently.
Go ahead, Alex.
[]QUESTION: Thank you, Vedant. Two topics, first on Russia, but if you come back to the South Caucasus later, I’ll appreciate that.
There are reports that Russia is now recruiting Afghan commanders trained by the U.S. Navy SEALs, and there are also reports that Kadyrov declared great jihad against Ukrainians. There are also reports that Putin today personally attended military drill and – which involves practicing missile launches. First of all, what do you think about those reports? Secondly, are you sure that Russia is not acting like a state of – state that sponsors terrorists?
MR PATEL: So a couple of things, Alex. First, some of this reporting I’ve also seen, but I don’t have any new assessment to offer or confirmation from the department for that matter. But I think the big takeaway here is that, once again, this is another example of how the Russian Federation’s war is not going according to President Putin’s plans, and he is having to turn to increasingly desperate actions to keep the war machine going. This is a possible follow-up to the Russian Federation attempting to provision assets from places like the DPRK and Iran and elsewhere.
I have no updates to offer on the state sponsor of terror designation. As we’ve said quite clearly – and you’ve seen the President speak to this – we continue to believe that, one, we have a number of tools at our disposal to hold the Russian Federation accountable, and we’ve done that, designations that in many cases supersede what a state sponsor of terror designation could be. But also there has been some specific concerns from humanitarian organizations and NGOs that a specific state sponsor of terror designation could impact and significantly impair the important work that they are doing in the country in terms of humanitarian work and humanitarian assistance that they can offer.
QUESTION: They’re doing it in Ukraine, not in Russia?
MR PATEL: Correct. Correct.
QUESTION: What is the connection between Russia being a terrorist state and NGOs not being able to operate in Ukraine? I’m just – I’m just trying to clear that.
MR PATEL: We – I can – we can look into the – how the specific impacts would be, but the feedback that we’ve heard from a number operating in the region, that a specific designation like that would make their work more difficult to accomplish.
QUESTION: Can I follow up on Russia?