EU sanctions 15 Iranian officials over the country’s deadly crackdown on protesters

The European Union on Thursday sanctioned 15 Iranian officials over the country’s deadly crackdown on citizens who protested against the national government.

Top commanders of the government's Revolutionary Guard are among those being sanctioned.

The paramilitary organization is poised to be designated a terrorist group, according to the Associated Press. However, the wire service did not say who would make the designation, though presumably the EU. 

The sanctions add to international pressures on the Islamic Republic that includes the threat of military action by President Donald Trump.

The protests started in late December in Tehran over the collapse of the country's monetary system and spread throughout the country.

What is also unclear is how many protesters were killed or executed, with activists saying as many as 6,300. 

The government has in recent days squashed the protests. But the U.S. military has moved the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers into the Mideast, the wire service also reports. 

Iran has said it could launch a pre-emptive strike or broadly target the Mideast, including American military bases in the region and Israel. Iran issued such a warning Thursday to ships at sea.