UK announces 'new sanctions regime' against Iran

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The UK announced a new sanctions regime Thursday that will give the government new and enhanced powers to counter "Iran's hostile and destabilizing activities" in the UK and around the world.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told the House of Commons that the new mechanism will be "the first new wholly geographical autonomous sanctions regime" that the UK has created since leaving the EU.

"They constitute a toolkit that I would prefer not to use but the decision on whether I do so or whether I do not is firmly in the hands of the Iranian regime itself," he said.

He accused Iran of “efforts to kill or kidnap individuals perceived to be enemies of the regime outside of Iran, including in the UK," and said in the past 18 months, Britain has responded to more than "15 credible threats" to kill or kidnap British or UK-based individuals by Iran.

"Our new sanctions regime will help to ensure there can be no hiding place for those who seek to do us harm," he said.

Cleverly announced that the UK has designated a further 13 individuals and entities, responsible for "serious human rights violations inside Iran."

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cyber Defense Command is among those sanctioned.

"Our aim is to prevent and deter hostile Iranian activity on British soil, as well as on the territory of our partners and allies," he added.

The UK has more than 350 sanctions in place on Iran, including on the IRGC in its entirety.