The UK government has today announced sanctions against Aliakbar
Ansari for his role in financially enabling the work of the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Minister for the Middle East, said:
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is one of the most
powerful military organisations in Iran, reporting directly to
the Supreme Leader. Its use of repression and targeted threats to
carry out hostile acts, including here in the UK, is completely
unacceptable. We will continue to take action to call out and
tackle such behaviour.
Today we are announcing sanctions against corrupt Iranian
banker and businessman, Aliakbar Ansari, for his role in
financially supporting the activities of the IRGC.
This designation sends a clear message - we will not tolerate
threats from the IRGC and will not hesitate to take the most
effective measures against them.”
Background:
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The following individual is today sanctioned by the UK
government and subject to an asset freeze, director
disqualification and travel ban: Aliakbar Ansari.
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A full list of today's sanctions designations and further
information can be found here: The UK
Sanctions List - GOV.UK
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Today's designation was made under the Iran
Sanctions Regulations (2023).
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To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 individuals and
entities under the Iran and Iran (Nuclear) regimes.
Definitions:
- 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.
-
Director disqualification: Where director disqualification
sanctions apply, it is an offence for a person designated for
the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a UK
company, or a foreign company that is sufficiently-connected
to the UK, or to take part in the management, formation or
promotion of a company.
- Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person
must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United
Kingdom, as the individual is an excluded person under section 8B
of the Immigration Act 1971.
