UK announces new sanctions against members of Iran’s IRGC
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:'The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the UK’s security'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The UK has announced new sanctions aimed at tackling the domestic threat posed by the Iranian regime – but has again not committed to full proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
New measures announced by the UK government, and by the United States, are aimed at curtailing the activities of Tehran, as it seeks to export repression, harassment and coercion against journalists and human rights defenders
The UK on Monday sanctioned seven individuals, who are are members of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Unit 840, and one organisation, including senior Iranian officials and members of organised criminal gangs who collaborate with the regime, in order to expose and disrupt Iran’s activities in the UK and overseas.
Tory and Labour MPs have repeatedly called for the IRGC to be proscribed in full by the government.
Speaking to Jewish News last Friday, Cleverly promises to crack down on hate ‘provocateurs’ at Palestine protests Cleverly said ”We are already taking very strong action against the IRGC. They are sanctioned in their entirety, individuals within that organisation are also sanctioned.
“We are also constantly reviewing which organisations we sanction, which organisations we proscribe.”
The IRGC’s Unit 840, which was exposed in an investigation into plots to assassinate two television presenters from news channel Iran International on UK soil.
This plot was just the latest credible reporting of the regime’s attempt to intimidate or kill British nationals or UK-linked individuals, with at least 15 such threats taking place since January 2022.
The Iranian regime delivers its threats via criminal gangs across the world.
As a result, the UK and US have targeted the criminal gang leaders working with Iran, for example Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, the head of an international criminal and trafficking cartel, who was linked to the 2019 murder of an Iranian dissident in Istanbul.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:“The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the UK’s security.
“Today’s package exposes the roles of the Iranian officials and gangs involved in activity aimed to undermine, silence and disrupt the democratic freedoms we value in the UK.
“The UK and US have sent a clear message – we will not tolerate this threat.”
The Foreign Secretary summoned the Iranian Charge d’Affaires on 22 December, to make clear that threats from the Iranian Regime will not be tolerated.
To date, the UK has more than 400 sanctions designations in place on Iranian individuals and entities in response to the regime’s human rights violations, nuclear weapons programme and malign influence internationally.
Today’s designations sit under the UK’s new Iran sanctions regime, which came into effect in December 2023 and gives the UK extensive new powers to hold Iran and those who undertake its hostile activity to account.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “The Iranian regime has tried to undermine our democracy through repression – we will continue to take action when necessary to protect our country, values and freedom of speech.
“We cannot allow foreign regimes to collaborate with criminals to threaten us. Sanctioning these criminal networks working for the Iranian regime will remind them that we will fight back.
“My priority is to protect our people and to defend our way of life, and the UK will not tolerate threats from the Iranian regime.”
Tory and Labour MPs have called for the IRGC to be proscribed in full by the government.
Speaking to Jewish News last Friday Cleverly said ”We are already taking very strong action against the IRGC. They are sanctioned in their entirety, individuals within that organisation are also sanctioned.
“We are also constantly reviewing which organisations we sanction, which organisations we proscribe.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
