The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on several individuals associated with the Iranian regime’s IRGC Quds Force and paramilitary groups.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in a statement on December 15 that it has imposed sanctions on Majid Zaree, a Quds Force official. Majid Zaree has been accused of supporting groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Wally Adeyemo, the Deputy Secretary of Treasury, stated in a statement that the United States, in coordination with its partners, including the United Kingdom, continues to confront terrorism financing and threats posed by Iran.
This action blocks the assets of this individual in the United States and prohibits Americans from conducting transactions with him. Individuals who engage in transactions with the sanctioned person will also be subject to sanctions.
Earlier, the UK Foreign Office also announced in a statement that new sanctions against the Islamic Republic, which will be implemented from December 14, provide the country with new comprehensive powers to hold the Iranian regime and its agents accountable for human rights abuses, violent suppression of protesters, and destructive international activities.
The list of individuals sanctioned by the UK Foreign Office list includes Ismail Qaani, the top commander of the notorious Quds Force. He leads Iran’s operations outside the country and supports regional allies and proxy groups.
The statement mentions that seven individuals and one other entity have been sanctioned, all of whom are associated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, due to their involvement in hostile activities by these armed groups under the protection of the Iranian regime, including actions aimed at threatening, planning, or causing destabilization.
Also sanctioned were Mohammed Saeed Izadi, the head of IRGC-QF Palestine branch, and three other members from that branch: Ali Marshad Shirazi, Majid Zaree and Mostafa Majid Khani.
The entire branch itself is subject to asset freezes, the government said, while Hamas and PIJ representatives to Iran, Khaled Qaddoumi and Nasser Abu Sharif, respectively, also face travel bans and asset freezes.
“The behaviour of the Iranian regime poses an unacceptable threat to the UK and our partners,” UK foreign minister David Cameron said in a statement.
“It continues to threaten people on UK soil and uses its influence to destabilise the Middle East through its support to armed groups, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).”
