Britain announces new sanctions against four IRGC commanders

Forces under the command of the four commanders “opened fire on unarmed protestors resulting in numerous deaths, including of children, and have arbitrarily detained and tortured protestors,” the British foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement said these sanctions were coordinated with the US and the EU.

“The Iranian regime are responsible for the brutal repression of the Iranian people and for exporting bloodshed around the world. That’s why we have more than 300 sanctions in place on Iran, including on the IRGC in its entirety,” Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

“The UK and our international partners are again making clear today that we will not overlook the regime’s brutal oppression. We will continue to take a range of action to hold the regime to account for its actions.”

The sanctions would prohibit the individuals on the list from traveling to the UK and freeze any of their assets in the country.

Iran experienced several months of anti-government protests that began last September following the death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who died shortly after being arrested by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly breaching the country’s strict dress rules for women.

The protests were met with a violent crackdown from authorities, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and the arrest of thousands, according to human rights groups.

Since October last year, the UK has imposed sanctions on over 70 Iranian officials and entities in response to Tehran’s crackdown on the protests.