LONDON: The United Kingdom (UK) announced on Thursday its plans for a tougher sanctions regime against Iran, citing alleged human rights violations and hostile actions against opponents on UK soil. The new measures will expand existing penalties by introducing new criteria that can be used to target individuals and entities. These include activities by Iran that undermine peace, stability, and security in the Middle East and globally, as well as the use and spread of weapons technologies originating from Iran.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that the Iranian regime is oppressing its own people, exporting bloodshed in Ukraine and the Middle East, and threatening acts of violence in the UK. The UK aims to send a clear message to Iran that such behavior will not be tolerated and that those responsible will be held accountable. The strengthened sanctions regime seeks to ensure that there is no safe haven for those who seek to harm the UK.
UK Govt Levels Serious Allegations Against Iran
The UK government accuses Iran of intensifying efforts to kill or kidnap perceived enemies of its regime, including within the UK. It alleges that Iranian intelligence services have developed close relationships with organized criminal gangs in Britain and across Europe to aid in targeting opponents. Since the beginning of 2022, the UK has reportedly uncovered over 15 credible threats to kill or kidnap British or UK-based individuals orchestrated by the Iranian regime.
These latest measures build upon previous actions taken by the UK in response to Iran’s hardline reaction to protests that have rocked the country since the death of Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in custody in September 2022. The UK has already imposed numerous asset freezes and travel bans on Iranian individuals and organizations, citing alleged human rights abuses. The United States and the European Union have also tightened their own sanctions against Iran.
As part of the latest sanctions, the UK has imposed additional measures on 13 individuals, including prison governors overseeing torture and inhumane treatment, as well as intelligence and cyber organizations, using existing human rights sanctions powers. The move comes amid ongoing concerns about threats and intimidation targeting UK-based journalists, with Iran being implicated in such actions. Media outlets, including Iran International TV and the BBC’s Persian-language service, have reported incidents of harassment and threats against their journalists and their families.
