Finance
UK imposes sanctions on Iranian officials over deadly protests
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 2, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 2, 2026
Quick Summary
Britain has expanded its Iran sanctions regime by adding 11 new designations, targeting 10 individuals and one entity, announced on February 2, 2023.
UK imposes sanctions on Iranian officials over deadly protests
UK Sanctions on Iranian Officials
LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Britain on Monday imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Iranian officials and a state security body targeting those it says enabled violent crackdowns on recent peaceful protests.
Britain's foreign office sanctioned 10 individuals and a state security body for serious human rights violations, including suppression of freedom of expression, restrictions on peaceful assembly and, in some cases, breaches of the right to life.
The measures impose an asset freeze, a director disqualification sanction, and a travel ban on those designated.
Details of the Sanctions
“The Iranian people have shown extreme courage in the face of brutality and repression over recent weeks simply for exercising their right to peaceful protest," foreign minister Yvette Cooper said in a statement.
"The reports and shocking scenes of violence that have been seen around the world are horrific," she added.
The Iranian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
International Reactions
The designations cover senior police chiefs, Revolutionary Guard figures and judges accused of directing violent repression, excessive sentencing or rights-abusing proceedings.
The Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran was designated for its role in policing protests, while the 10 individuals were sanctioned for enabling or directing abuses across Iran's security and judicial systems.
The government said the action follows sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States to hold the Iranian authorities to account. EU foreign ministers last week included the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the bloc's list of terrorist organisations.
Iran's Response to Sanctions
Talks between Iran and the United States also appeared to edge closer on Monday, with an Iranian foreign ministry official saying Tehran was weighing terms for resuming nuclear negotiations amid a U.S. naval buildup following last month's deadly protest crackdown.
Iran's reaction to rising international pressure escalated on Sunday, when the speaker of its parliament said Tehran now considered the armies of EU member states "terrorist groups" after the bloc listed the Revolutionary Guards as such.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; writing by Sarah Young, editing by Paul Sandle, Editing by William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •Britain imposes 11 new sanctions on Iran.
- •The sanctions include 10 individuals and one entity.
- •The move is part of the UK's ongoing Iran sanctions regime.
- •The announcement was made on February 2, 2023.
- •The sanctions aim to address specific concerns with Iran.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK imposes sanctions on Iranian officials over deadly protests
1What is a designation in the context of sanctions?
A designation refers to the identification of individuals or entities that are subject to sanctions. This can involve freezing assets or prohibiting transactions with them.
2What is the purpose of financial sanctions?
Financial sanctions aim to restrict the economic activities of targeted individuals, organizations, or countries to achieve foreign policy or national security objectives.
