The White House Friday (Jan. 12) took steps to protect access to the media and speech...in Iran.

Those were part of a series of moves meant to signal that, while the President was again waiving nuclear-related sanctions--the U.S. still had lots of issues with that country, including that it is the leading state sponsor of terrorism and oppresses, tortures and silences its people.

"[W]e're designating Iran's Supreme Council for Cyberspace for engaging in censorship or other activities that prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of expression or assembly by citizens of Iran, or that limit access to print or broadcast media," White House officials told the press in a background call. "Today's actions were taken pursuant to executive orders that target serious human rights abuses by the government of Iran, censorship, and activities that restrict freedom of expression or assembly by citizens and media in Iran," the official said.

The President, in a statement, called on U.S. allies to "join us in countering Iran’s cyber threats."

Earlier in the week, the President continued his attacks on U.S. media and suggested his Administration would be looking to toughen libel laws, which he has threatened to employ against stories critical of him.

In yet another Republican effort to spotlight the U.S. relationship with Iran, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and 19 other Republicans have called on the Obama administration to demand the unconditional release of American citizens they say have been unjustly imprisoned in that country, including journalist Jason Rezaian.

Rezaian was arrested and imprisoned last year and his case referred to a Revolutionary Court. Reports are that he could be charged with espionage.

In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, the Republicans noted the cases of three Americans currently in Iranian jails, as well as former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared eight years ago while on a trip to Iran.

The tie to the Republican pushback on the Obama Administration's nuclear arms negotiations was clear in the tenor of the letter -- as well as being signaled by the absence of Democrats on a congressional call to release imprisoned Americans.

"“It is unacceptable that as the United States engages with Iran, human rights violations at the hands of Iranian officials go unchecked and Americans languish in Iranian jail cells,” the senators wrote Kerry. “We urge you to discuss these imprisoned Americans and demand their unconditional release as you engage in discussion with Iranian officials.”