The UK has today announced further sanctions targeting Iran's
drone and missile industries.
The package, announced in coordination with the US and Canada,
follows the regime's attack on 13 April, in which over 300 drones
and missiles were fired at Israel.
It comes after an initial set of sanctions announced last
Thursday (18 April) in reaction to Iran's drone attacks on Israel
the previous weekend.
The UK is today sanctioning a further two individuals and four
companies which are closely involved in Iran's network of drone
production.
In addition, the UK has also announced its plan to expand trade
sanctions against the regime by introducing new bans on the
export of components used in drone and missile production to
Iran. These measures seek to deny Iran access to the components
it needs to develop these weapons, limiting its military
capabilities.
Foreign Secretary, said:
The Iranian regime's dangerous attack on Israel risked thousands
of civilian casualties and wider escalation in the region.
Today the UK and our partners have sent a clear message – we will
hold those responsible for Iran's destabilising behaviour to
account.
Alongside our partners, we will continue to tighten the net on
Iran's ability to develop and export these deadly weapons.
Today's announcement follows the commitment set out at the G7
Foreign Ministers meeting last week to tackle Iran's
destabilising activity in the region.
From today, Seyed Mohsen Vahabzadeh Moghadam and Abbas Abdi
Asjerd are subject to a UK travel ban and asset freeze.
Both Moghadam and Asjerd are directors of a network of Iranian
companies involved in producing drones.
They also have connections to Abdollah Mehrabi, head of the IRGC
Aerospace Force SSJO, a key figure in Iran's drone industry who
was designated by the UK in 2022 for his role in supplying drones
to Russia.
The following companies, which make up this network, are also
subject to an asset freeze:
-
Bonyan Danesh Shargh
-
Pishro Sanat Aseman Sharif Company
-
Alvand Motorbuilding Industries Company
-
Moj Gostar Aseman Parvaz Company
The UK already has over 400 sanctions imposed on Iran, including
designations against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
in its entirety and many of those responsible for the attack on
Israel.
The UK continues to expose those involved in the Iranian drones
and missile production industries, having previously introduced
trade measures prohibiting the export of specific components and
services to Iran.
The UK has previously designated a wide range of companies
involved in production of Iranian drones, including the
Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones – models which Iran has supplied
to Russia. These types of drones were also used by Iran in its
attack on Israel.
Today's designations have been made under the new Iran sanctions
regime, which came into force in December 2023 and enables the UK
to target Iran's hostile behaviour.
Further information:
- Today's sanction package is the second UK package targeting
individuals involved in Iran's attack against Israel on 13 April.
The first tranche was announced by the FCDO on
18 April.
- Today's plan for further trade measures will build on the
existing export restrictions which were introduced last year as
part of our new Iran sanctions regime, which has given the UK
extensive powers to tackle Iran's hostile activities.
- Today's sanctions package is being announced under the new
Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023, which came into force in
December 2023.
- The UK's Iran Sanctions Regime contains measures designed to
target individuals and organisations, including designation
powers designed to deter the Government of Iran or armed groups
that they back, from conducting hostile activity against the
United Kingdom or any other country.
- The UK also maintains an arms embargo on Iran, as well as
measures targeting ballistic missile production.
- Asset freeze: An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any
business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic
resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated
person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being
provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK
financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and
territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they
are in the world.
- Travel ban: A travel ban means that the designated person is
an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971,
and must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United
Kingdom (and any leave given to a person who is an excluded
person is invalid).
