Bayan Media Network learned earlier last week through a source at the Iranian embassy that Tehran is about to announce a series of sweeping sanctions against the UK in retaliation to what the Leadership views as an attack by UK state officials against the Islamic Revolution.
Over the past few weeks pressure has mounted against Tehran. Last week the UK Minister Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned the Iranians Ambassador over threats leveled at Irna International – a media of the opposition targeted by the Islamic Republic. Separately, the UK imposed new sanctions against the regime.
Vijay Rangarajan, Director General for the Middle East, held the meeting with Iranian Chargé d’Affaires Mehdi Hosseini Matin to make clear the UK will not tolerate threats to life and media freedom.
As part of wider efforts to hold the regime to account over its behaviour globally, the UK and international partners have also today imposed further sanctions on 8 senior Iranian figures responsible for repressing their own people.
They include 3 judges who imposed the death penalty against protestors and 5 IRGC commanders.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “The UK will always stand up to countries who threaten our fundamental values of freedom of expression and the media.
I am appalled by the Iranian regime’s continuing threats to the lives of UK-based journalists and have today summoned its representative to make clear this will not be tolerated.
As part of wider efforts to hold Iran to account, the UK has today also sanctioned a further 8 individuals responsible for horrific human rights violations in Iran, including the killing of children. We will never allow the regime’s threats to go unchallenged.”
A source at the Iranian embassy in the UK confirmed that Tehran is mulling sanctions against the UK in anticipation of a move by the Prime Minister to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.
He explained that Tehran was considering closing the embassy ahead of an escalation against Western powers, and force state officials to retreat before pressure.
The Iranian embassy is said to have held talks with several embassies over the past week to relay the message to gauge reaction and support to such a move.
“The embassy shared information with several diplomats and individuals to assess potential fall backs,” noted the source.
