Today (Thursday 18 April) the UK has sanctioned a further seven
individuals and six entities who have enabled Iran to conduct
destabilising regional activity, including its direct attack on
Israel.
This adds to the 400 plus sanctions already imposed on Iran.
Previous sanctions include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) in its entirety and many of those responsible for
the attack on Israel.
In a coordinated package with the US, leading Iranian military
figures have been sanctioned in response to Iran's dangerous
direct attack on Israel on 14 April. The UK and US have also
announced a range of sanctions to tighten the net on key actors
within Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and missile
industries and further limit Iran's ability to destabilise the
region.
The Foreign Secretary announced these sanctions during his
attendance at the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Capri, where
the UK and our allies reaffirmed support for Israel's security
and the security of all our regional partners.
Prime Minister said:
The Iranian regime's attack against Israel was a reckless act and
a dangerous escalation.
Today we have sanctioned the ringleaders of the Iranian military
and forces responsible for the weekend's attack.
These sanctions – announced with the US – show we unequivocally
condemn this behaviour, and they will further limit Iran's
ability to destabilise the region.”
Foreign Secretary, David Cameron said:
At a time of great tension in the Middle East, Iran's decision to
launch hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel carried
with it a serious risk of thousands of civilian casualties and
wider escalation for the region.
The sanctions announced today alongside the US demonstrate our
unequivocal condemnation of Iran's attack on a sovereign
state.
The MSC Aries and its crew should be released immediately, and
Iran should halt its reckless and unlawful behaviour. Further
escalation is in no one's interest.”
The UK has condemned Iran's dangerous attack on a sovereign
state, which has further inflamed tensions in the Middle East and
served to further isolate Iran on the world stage. Today's
designations have been made under the UK's new Iran
sanctions regime, which enables the UK to target Iran's
hostile behaviour.
Further sanctions have been imposed on:
- Armed Forces General Staff – directs and coordinates Iran's
armed forces.
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy – one of
Iran's two naval forces.
- The Khatemolanbia Central Headquarters (KCHQ) - responsible
for operational command and control of Iran's armed
forces.
- Maj Gen Gholamali Rashid, Commander KCHQ – responsible for
operational command and control of Iran's armed forces, reports
directly to the Supreme Leader.
- Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Minister of Defence
Armed Forces Logistics – Iran's Defence Minister, responsible for
supporting and equipping the Iranian armed forces.
- Seid Mir Ahmad Nooshin, Aerospace Industries Organisation
(AIO) Director and four further individuals related to AIO.
The individuals sanctioned are subject to a travel ban and asset
freeze. The entities are subject to an asset freeze.
The IRGC Navy was involved in seizing the civilian ship “MSC
Aries” in international waters and has threatened military action
against Israel. The UK has continued to call for the immediate
release of the ship and its crew.
In 2023 alone, the UK made 154 new designations. The UK continues
to tighten the net on actors involved in the Iranian UAV and
missile industries. Last year the UK introduced trade measures
prohibiting the export of specific UAV components and services to
Iran. The UK has also designated a wide range of companies
involved in production of Iranian UAVs, 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.
The UK is continuing to work closely with our partners in the G7
as we consider further measures to hold Iran's regime to account.
