UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly pictured in September 2022
Britain has slapped a new round of sanctions on 24 Iranian officials who played a role in cracking down on protests after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
In a press release on Monday the United Kingdom announced the “sanctions target officials within the Iranian regime who are responsible for heinous human rights violations.”
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that by these sanctions the UK and its partners have sent a “clear message” to the Iranian regime that “the violent crackdown on protests must stop and freedom of expression must be respected.”
The Foreign Secretary expressed that Britain designates Iran’s Communications Minister Issa Zarepour as well as a number of law enforcement agents and IRGC officials who ordered and been involved in the clampdown on demonstrators.
The British foreign office further noted that Chief of Iran’s Cyber Police, Vahid Mohammad Naser Majid, will be targeted due to the internet shutdown and “disabling WhatsApp and Instagram, and banning the use of the Google Play app and virtual private networks (VPNs).”
Governor of Sistan and Baluchestan as well as Kordestan have also been sanctioned due to massacre of 80 people on September 30 in Zahedan and heavy crackdown on Kurdish protesters.
The name of Chief of Tehran Police could also be seen in the list. Hossein Rahimi is sanctioned for using live rounds and tear gas against students at Sharif University in Tehran.
The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans.
Meanwhile, the European Union also approved a new round of sanctions Monday against 29 individuals and three entities with asset freezes and travel bans.