UK sanctions high-profile figures within Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The UK announced new sanctions Monday on Iranian officials, including top financiers and commanders of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Foreign Office.

"Those sanctioned include five members on the Board of Directors of the IRGC Co-operative Foundation, the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments. Two senior IRGC commanders operating in Tehran and Alborz provinces also sanctioned for gross human rights violations," it said in a statement.

The Foreign Office said that Monday’s designations include Ahmed Zulqadr, commander of the IRGC Seyyed al-Shohada provincial corps in Tehran province and deputy commander of IRGC corps in Tehran City, and Alireza Heydarnia, commander of the IRGC for the Alborz Province.

"Today we are taking action on the senior leaders within the IRGC who are responsible for funnelling money into the regime’s brutal repression," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in the statement.

Cleverly added that together with partners, UK will continue stand with the Iranian people "as they call for fundamental change in Iran."

The fresh sanctions constitute an asset freeze and UK travel ban on the individuals concerned and send "a wider signal on the UK’s commitment" to backing condemnation with action.

Last month, Britain also imposed sanctions on eight senior Iranian figures, including judges, members of the IRGC and regional governors for alleged human rights violations.

In January, Celeverly stated that in the last three months alone, the UK has imposed five separate packages of sanctions on Iran, while designations have been enforced against over 300 Iranian individuals and entities.