Iran announced penalties on dozens of Americans on Saturday, many of them military personnel, in retaliation for the 2020 assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the 51 Americans were targeted for "terrorism" and human rights breaches. The measure enables Iranian authorities to seize any assets they may have in Iran, but given the apparent lack of such assets, the action is likely to be symbolic.

According to the ministry, the 51 were targeted for "their role in the terrorist crime by the United States against the martyred General Qassem Soleimani and his companions and the promotion of terrorism and violations of fundamental human rights."

Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards' abroad arm, was assassinated in Iraq on Jan. 3, 2020, in a drone strike approved by then-President Donald Trump.

Reuters reported that US General Mark Milley, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and former White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien were sanctioned by Iran.

Iran sanctioned Trump and other senior US officials a year ago for "terrorist and anti-human rights" conduct.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated on the second anniversary of Soleimani's assassination that Trump must stand justice for the crime this week, or Tehran will exact retaliation.