Britain Sanctions Iranian Oil Magnate and Companies

London has imposed sanctions on an Iranian oil magnate and four associated firms, asserting their involvement in a network supporting Tehran’s activities abroad, including actions that destabilize Ukraine and Israel.

The restrictive measures encompass an asset freeze and travel prohibition for Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, alongside asset freezes for entities operating within the shipping, petrochemical, and financial sectors, as stated by the Foreign Office.

Hamish Falconer, Britain’s Minister for the Middle East, commented that Iran’s dependence on income derived from trading networks and affiliated organizations allows it to execute destabilizing actions, such as backing proxies and partners throughout the region and enabling state-sponsored threats on UK soil.

The Iranian embassy in London has issued a statement condemning what it described as Britain’s “unilateral and illegal measures” and “baseless accusations”.

Shamkhani, the son of an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was not available for comment.

The United States, having sanctioned Shamkhani the previous month, declared that he manages a wide network of container ships and tankers through a complex system of intermediaries that facilitate the sale of Iranian and Russian oil, as well as other commodities, globally.

Several of the companies sanctioned by Britain were identified as acting on behalf of, or under the direction of, Shamkhani, who stands accused of supporting Iran’s international operations. The European Union also sanctioned Shamkhani earlier in the year.

British legislators cautioned recently that Iran represents a growing and multifaceted danger to Britain. While acknowledging that it doesn’t yet rival the challenges presented by Russia or China, they conveyed concerns that the government is inadequately equipped to address it. They specified that the Iranian threat spans physical attacks and potential assassinations targeting dissidents and Jewish communities, in addition to espionage, offensive cyber operations, and efforts to advance nuclear weapons. Iran has refuted these claims, dismissing them as “unfounded, politically motivated and hostile allegations”.