UK Imposes New Sanctions against Iran over 'Brutal Repression'

On Monday, Britain imposed more sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities over the country's "brutal repression" of its people, including the suppression of anti-government protests and the recent execution of British-Iranian dual national Alireza Akbari.

The sanctions included freezing the assets of Iran's deputy public prosecutor, Ahmad Fazelian, who the British Foreign Office said was responsible for an unfair judicial system that uses the death penalty for political ends.

"Those sanctioned today, from the judicial figures using the death penalty for political ends to the thugs beating protestors on the streets, are at the heart of the regime’s brutal repression of the Iranian people," British foreign minister James Cleverly said in a statement.

"The UK and our partners have sent a clear message through these sanctions that there will be no hiding place for those guilty of the worst human rights violations."

The European Union also imposed new sanctions on Iran on Monday for its "brutal and disproportionate use of force" against protesters.

Widespread anti-government demonstrations erupted in Iran in September following the death in custody of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the morality police to enforce the Islamic Republic's mandatory dress code on women.

Britain imposed sanctions on others, including Kiyumars Heidari, Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Ground Forces. Hossein Nejat, deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC); The Basij Resistance Force and its deputy commander, Salar Abnoush.

The IRGC has an estimated 125,000 soldiers with army, navy and air units, and leads the religious Basij militia that is often used in crackdowns.

Sanctions were also imposed on the Basij Cooperative Foundation, which is linked to the Basij militia, and Qassem Rezaei, the deputy commander of Iran's law enforcement forces.

The Basij Cooperative Foundation, linked to the Basij militia, and Qasem Rezaei, deputy commander of Iran's law enforcement forces, were also sanctioned.

Britain has now imposed 50 new sanctions on Iran since Amini's death,  according to the foreign office.