“The Iranian regime has subverted its system of justice into a cruel system of repression. Today, the US is sanctioning several Iranian officials and entities for gross violations of human rights, including one of the judges who reportedly sentenced Navid Afkari to death,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a tweet.

It is for the first time, the US has sanctioned any foreign judge and a court for human rights violations.

Meanwhile, US Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela Elliott Abrams said the sanctions targeted Seyyed Mahmoud Sadati, the judge who handed the death sentence to Afkari, a 27-year-old wrestler.

"The US is committed to holding accountable those who deny freedom and justice to people of Iran and later today the United States will announce sanctions on several Iranian officials and entities including the judge who sentenced Navid Afkari to death," Abrams said during a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The wrestler was executed earlier this month after being convicted for the fatal stabbing of a security guard during anti-government protests in 2018, according to local media reports.

The US also blacklisted Adel Abad prison, the wrestler was reportedly tortured by Iranian officials, and Vakilabad prison, where US citizen Michael White was detained.