Iran sanctions British officials, organizations

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs slapped sanctions against a number of British individuals and organizations.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced the embargoes as a "tit for tat" move against the sanctions that have been imposed by some European countries on Iran.

The measures by the listed entities have led to "riots, violence" against the Iranian nation, the ministry added.

The statement went on to name three entities and nine individuals that have been blacklisted under the Islamic Republic of Iran's sanctions regime.

The named entities include the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) as well as Volant Media, Global Media, and DMA Media and anti-Iranian TV channels that they support namely, BBC Persian and Iran International.

According to the statement, sanctions have been imposed on Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat, Royal Navy Commodore Don MacKinnon, Chair of the Labour Friends of Israel in House of Commons Steve McCabe, Chair of Conservative Friends of Israel in House of Commons Stephen Crabb, and honorary chair of Conservative Friends of Israel in House of Lords Stuart Polak.

The sanctions have also targeted Conservative member of the House of Commons Bob Blackman, Member of the House of Commons and former secretary of State for environment Theresa Villiers, British politician Anthea McIntyre, and former Chief of the General Staff General Mark Carleton-Smith.

The sanctions will bar the targeted individuals from obtaining visas and entering Iran and will freeze their assets and bank accounts inside Iran.