LONDON, May 11 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

* New UK sanctions target organisations and individualswhothreateninternational and UK security. * ActiondemonstratesUKcommitment tocounteringIranianthreats toUK national security, regionalstability,andthe global economy. * Sanctions willdeterattacks against dissidents overseas anddisrupt illicitrevenue generation for theIranianregime.

Organisations and individuals enablinghostileIranianactivityareamongst thosebeing targeted under new sanctions announced by theForeign Secretary, Yvette Cooper,today (11 May). The measures comein response to Iranianaction againstglobalsecurityand its use of criminal gangs to carry out threatsoverseas.

Themeasurestargetillicit finance flows which enable the Iranian regime to pursuedestabilising actionacross the Middle East,including their blockade of the Strait of Hormuz - contravening international law and disrupting the global economy - and military strikes againstregional and Gulfallies.

Today'ssanctionsalsotargetcriminal proxies who act on behalf of the Iranian state to threaten theUS andEuropebypreventingcriminal gangsfrom travelling to the UK or accessing assets whichfinancetheir illegal activity.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Coopersaid:

This package of sanctions directly targetsorganisations and individualswho threaten security on UK streetsand stability in the Middle East.Criminal proxies backed by parts of the Iranian regime whothreaten security in the UK and Europe will not be tolerated, nor will illicitfinance networks. We are coordinatingthese actions across Europe.

We continue topress fora negotiated settlementanda long-term diplomatic solution in the Middle East, which urgently restores freedom of navigation to the Strait of Hormuz.

Thepackageof sanctionsis aligned with action taken bythe EUandbuilds onrecentactionbythe UK government to hold the Iranian regime accountable forhostileactivity, including threats tonational security.

Morebroadly, the Prime Minister has made clear that we need stronger powers to tackle threatsposed by states like Iran, which is whywe will fast-trackHome Office state-threatslegislation.On 28 April, the Minister for the Middle Eastsummoned the Iranian Ambassador for the third time this year.The government has censured the Iranian embassy's unacceptable and inflammatory comments on social media and made clear that any attempts to cause violence or inflame tensions in our communities will not betolerated.

The UK alsosanctioned 10 individuals and one organisation in Februaryfor their brutalresponse toIranian protestorsin January and inpreviousprotests.

The UK already has imposed more than 550 sanctions on Iranian individuals and organisations, including the entirety of theIslamic Revolutionary Guards Corps i and over 90 sanctions inresponse toHuman Rights violations.

These sanctions form part ofaUKday of action againstdestabilisingactivity by Iran and Russia.Earlier today,the UK announced sanctionsagainst Russia'shostile and heinousattemptsto undermine democracy and destroy Ukraine's future.

Background:

The followingentitiesaretoday sanctioned by the UK government andaresubject to an asset freeze and director disqualification:

* BerelianExchange * GCMExchange * The Zindashti Network

The following individuals are today sanctioned by the UK government and are subject to a travel ban, assetfreezeand director disqualification:

* MansourZarringhalam * NasserZarringhalam * Ekrem Abdulkerym Oztunc * Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan * Reza Hamidiravari * Namiq Salifov 

The following individuals are also today sanctioned by the UK government and are subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification:

* FazlolahZarringhalam * PouriaZarringhalam * FarhadZarringhalam

Information in this Press Release wasaccurateat the time of publication. Please see the UK Sanctions List for the current list of those subject to sanctionshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list

Definitions:  

*

Asset freeze:an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned,heldor controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world.

*

Director disqualification:Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it is an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a UK company, or a foreign company that is sufficiently-connected to the UK, or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a company.

*

Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, as the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.

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