The British government has imposed sanctions on an Iranian-linked network accused of plotting attacks in the UK and elsewhere.
The Foreign Office issued travel bans, asset freezes, and director disqualification orders against nine individuals and three entities linked to “Iranian-backed hostile activity.”
They are accused of plotting attacks and financing efforts to destabilize Britain and its allies on behalf of Iran.
The sanctioned include alleged members and associates of the Zindashti criminal network, accused of threatening, planning, or conducting attacks against people and assets in Britain and elsewhere.
Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, the network’s alleged leader, was sanctioned by both Britain and the United States in 2024. Authorities described him at the time as the head of an international drug and trafficking cartel directed by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
The European Union followed with its own designations last year. London, Washington, and Brussels have all accused the network of conducting assassination and kidnapping operations targeting critics of the Iranian government.
Others sanctioned by the UK include five members of the Zarringhalam family, accused of helping finance destabilization efforts.
Three of the family were sanctioned by the United States last year for their alleged role in Iran’s shadow banking network. Washington claimed it laundered billions of dollars through front companies in the UAE and Hong Kong.
Two exchange houses linked to the family’s network, Berelian Exchange and GCM Exchange, were also designated.
Also named are Turkish national Ekrem Oztunc, Azerbaijani Namiq Salifov, and Iranian Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan. All are accused of threatening, planning, or conducting attacks in the UK or elsewhere.
The designations are the latest in a series of measures Britain has taken against Iran in recent months. They follow separate sanctions issued in February targeting members of Iran’s security apparatus for violently suppressing widespread pro-reform protests earlier this year.
Source: www.aljazeera.com