UK sanctions Iran’s oil and energy ministries

The British Treasury announced it had imposed sanctions on Iran covering 9 individuals and 62 entities, including Iran’s energy and oil ministries.

The ministry said in a statement today that 71 new names have been added to the UK’s sanctions list related to Iran’s nuclear programme, “and they are now subject to asset freezes.”

According to the statement, the sanctions include “the freezing of funds and economic resources belonging to individuals who have participated or are participating in the proliferation or development of nuclear weapons in Iran or their use, or any activity that could lead to that, or the development of nuclear weapons delivery systems.”

The new sanctions target 9 individuals, most notably: Reza Aghazadeh, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (1997–2009); Majid Namjou, a member of the Supreme National Security Council and former energy minister; and Ali Akbar Salehi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization.

The European Union confirmed today that it has reimposed wide ranging sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, after the United Nations reinstated its sanctions.

The UN took the step at the weekend after European powers activated the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The sanctions reimposed by the 27-member bloc include UN measures banning engagement with Tehran’s nuclear activities and those intended for ballistic missiles. They also include financial measures, among them freezing Iran’s assets at the central bank.