The British government announced today, Thursday, the imposition of further sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities, adding 13 entries under its human rights sanctions regime on Iran. It pointed out that it "will establish a new sanctions system for Iran that will give it greater powers to target decision-makers, including those involved in the proliferation of weapons and threatening British nationals."
Britain confirmed that under the new system, legislation will be issued later this year, allowing for sanctions against individuals and entities involved in undermining peace and stability in the Middle East or internationally. It added that it has provided evidence to the UN Security Council showing that Iran is continuing to send weapons to the Houthis in Yemen and to Russia to support it in the Ukraine war.
Under the new criteria, sanctions may also target those whom Britain describes as being involved in Iranian activities that undermine democracy and the rule of law in the UK, as well as hostile activities targeting the British people or their property, or its allies.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated: "The Iranian regime oppresses its people and causes bloodshed in Ukraine and the Middle East, threatening to kill and kidnap on British soil." He added, "The UK sent a clear message to the regime today that we will not tolerate this malicious behavior and we will hold you accountable. The new sanctions system will help deprive those seeking to harm us of any refuge where they hide."
Cleverly told reporters, "What we have seen over the past eighteen months is unprecedented Iranian aggression against people here in the UK, in an attempt to silence dissenting voices."
Britain noted that Iran has carried out at least 15 attempts to kidnap or even kill British citizens or residents in the UK since the beginning of last year. On the other hand, the Iranian Arabic-language television channel Al-Alam reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the British chargé d'affaires in Tehran due to British destructive statements and interference in Iranian affairs.
The current UK sanctions system related to Iran focuses on human rights, but the proposals will expand the range of criteria that the government can rely on to target new parties in the future.
