The UK has sanctioned 13 Iranian individuals and entities including the leadership of Iran’s armed forces and its defence minister following Tehran’s attack on Israel.
Rishi Sunak said new UK sanctions target the “ringleaders” of the Iranian military responsible for Tehran’s unprecedented weekend drone and missile attack on Israel.
The 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.”
Iranian defence minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and Major-General Gholamali Rashid, commander of Iran’s central military headquarters, have both been added to the UK’s sanctions list along with five other individuals linked to the Iranian defence industry.
These include directors and managers at Aerospace Industries Organisation, Shahid Hemmat Industries Group and Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, all of which are believed to be involved in Iran’s ballistic missile programme.
Entities sanctioned by the UK on Thursday include the General Staff of Iran’s armed forces, the naval wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Khatam-Al Anbiya Central Headquarters which Major-General Rashid commands.
The UK has also sanctioned three Iranian defence companies.
New UK and US sanctions on Iranian military figures and entities demonstrate the countries’ “unequivocal condemnation” of Tehran’s assault on Israel, Lord David Cameron said.
The Foreign Secretary 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.”
Source » jewishnews