New Iranian sanction regime comes in to force

New sanctions regime gives UK extensive new powers to disrupt Iran’s hostile activities in the UK and around the world

Sanctions will target Iran’s decision makers and those doing its bidding, with the regime also including new restrictions on Iran’s drone programme and shipping

In coordination with the US, first sanctions package under new regime targets the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and individuals linked to Iran’s relationship with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad

The UK’s new Iran sanctions regime comes into force today, giving the UK extensive new powers to hold Iran and its decision makers to account. 

Announced in July, the sanctions regime has been developed to respond to unprecedented threats from the Iranian regime, including efforts to undermine peace and security across the Middle East and plots to kill individuals on UK soil.

The new regime also includes new trade restrictions targeting Iran’s drone programme, including by strengthening our existing export restrictions on drone components, as well as new powers to impose transport sanctions on ships involved in contravening existing sanctions or owned or controlled by sanctioned individuals.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The behaviour of the Iranian regime poses an unacceptable threat to the UK and our partners. 

It continues to threaten people on UK soil and uses its influence to destabilise the Middle East through its support to armed groups, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The UK’s new Iran sanctions regime gives us extensive new powers to tackle this appalling behaviour. Today’s designations send a clear message to the regime we will hold you to account for your actions.

In co-ordination with the United States, the UK has also announced the first set of designations under this new regime, targeting Iran’s support for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The first set of UK designations includes Esmail Qaani, who heads Iran’s notorious IRGC Quds Force, which leads Iran’s operations outside the country and provides support to regional partners and proxy groups. 

A further seven individuals and one entity, all with links to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, are designated today. 

Those being sanctioned by the UK today were targeted for their involvement in hostile activity by an armed group, backed by the Government of Iran, consisting of activity being threatening, planning or conducting intent to cause the destabilisation of Israel.

The individuals that are subject to UK travel bans and asset freezes include:

• Esmail Qaani: The Head of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) 

• Mohammed Saeed Izadi: The Head of IRGC-QF Palestine Branch; and Head, Abu Jihad Foreign Operations Unit

• Ali Marshad Shirazi: A member of IRGC-QF Palestine Branch 

• Majid Zaree: A member of IRGC-QF Palestine Branch

• Mostafa Majid Khani: A member of IRGC-QF Palestine Branch

• Khaled Qaddoumi: A Hamas Representative to Iran

• Nasser Abu Sharif: A Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Representative to Iran 

The following entity is also being sanctioned by the UK and is subject to asset freezes:

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) Palestine Branch

To date, the UK has more than 350 sanctions designations in place on Iranian individuals and entities in response to the regime’s human rights violations and malign influence internationally.

Further Information

• More on today’s sanctions legislation can be found here.
• Since the start of 2022, the UK has responded more than 15 credible threats and plots to kill British or UK-based individuals by the Iranian regime. The regime has publicly called for the killing of these individuals and in some cases detained and harassed the individual’s families in Iran. 
• The UK Government works with a range of partners and will continue to use all tools at our disposal to protect individuals in the UK against any threats from the Iranian state.
• The Government continually assesses potential threats in the UK, and takes the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously – wherever those threats may originate.
• The 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 new sanctions regime was initially announced in July 2023.
• Travel ban: A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.
• 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. 

• By significantly expanding the UK’s sanctions powers, the UK’s has created a new criteria under which individuals and entities can be sanctioned, including:

• the Iranian regime’s activities undermining peace, stability and security in the Middle East and internationally; 
• the use and spread of weapons or weapons technologies from Iran; 
• the Iranian regime’s undermining of democracy, respect for the rule of law and good governance; 
• other hostile activities towards the UK and our partners emanating from the Iranian regime, including threats to our people, property, or security.