Washington, November 23 (RHC)-- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has threatened to impose even more sanctions on Iran over the country’s handling of the recent riots, even though the unrest is believed to be the result of Washington’s unilateral sanctions.

In comments on Thursday, Pompeo urged Iranians to send photos and other information documenting what he called “repression,” while vowing to sanction "abuses" by the Iranian government.  "I have asked the Iranian protesters to send us their videos, photos and information documenting the regime's crackdown on protesters," Pompeo tweeted, vowing that the U.S. will “expose and sanction the abuses."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news conference in Moscow that the Iranian government’s decision to raise gasoline prices was provoked by Washington's pressure on Tehran.  "All this was provoked by the absolutely illegal and massive sanctions pressure that the U.S. is exerting on this country,” she said Thursday.

"And, in general, because of Washington's actions, the fundamental human rights and legitimate interests of the Iranian population to freely receive food, medicines and all kinds of necessary products are violated," she added.

On November 15, the Iranian government raised gasoline prices, which still remain the cheapest in the world, triggering protests that some rioters took advantage of to destroy public property and torch banks and gas stations.  The riots also marked hooligans and thugs attacking security forces with firearms, knives and other lethal weapons, leaving several people dead.