The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on 10 Iranian officials, including the country’s interior minister and senior police figures, over what it described as a violent crackdown on recent protests.
In a statement released on Monday, the British Foreign Office said those targeted include Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, senior officers of the Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA), two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an Iranian businessman allegedly linked to the IRGC, and two members of the judiciary.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the action was taken in response to reports of excessive force used against demonstrators.
“The Iranian people have shown remarkable courage in the face of repression while exercising their right to peaceful protest,” Cooper said, describing the scenes of violence as “deeply disturbing.”
According to the UK government, the sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans aimed at holding Iranian authorities accountable for their actions.
The protests, which began in early January amid worsening economic conditions, quickly escalated across several cities.
Iranian officials have characterised the unrest as riots instigated by foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel.
Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, releasing the names of 2,986 victims on Sunday.
Authorities maintain that many of those killed were security personnel or civilians caught in the violence, which they attribute to “terrorist acts.”
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates the death toll to be significantly higher, reporting that at least 6,842 people, mostly protesters, were killed, though rights groups caution that the true figure may be even greater.
