The United Kingdom announced Monday to strengthen its sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards, ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as part of a salvo of measures decided by the West for human rights violations.
In total, London has added more than 70 individuals and entities to its Iran-related sanctions list, banned from traveling to the UK and targeted with asset freezes, the UK Foreign Office said.
This includes by name four generals of the Revolutionary Guards, an organization sanctioned "
in its entirety
", the ministry said.
Coordinated with the United States and the European Union, this announcement brings the British list to 300 personalities and entities.
“
The United Kingdom and its international partners reaffirm today that we will not turn a blind eye to the brutal oppression carried out by the regime
,” said the head of diplomacy James Cleverly, quoted in the press release.
"
We will continue to take a whole series of measures to hold the regime accountable for its actions
", he added, denouncing "
the brutal repression exercised against the Iranian people
" and accusing Tehran of "
exporting the bath of blood all over the world
.
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Be careful with the terms used
While the British government has continued to tighten its sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards, it has so far resisted calls to classify this army as a "
terrorist organization
" at the risk of cutting off all contact with Tehran.
Created in 1979 after the victory of the revolution against the power of the Shah, the Guardians (“
Sepah-é Pasdaran
” in Persian) have land, naval and air forces with manpower estimated at more than 120,000 men.
The Guardians oversee the Bassij (Islamist volunteer corps), which has been deployed in the face of protests sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, who died after being arrested by the vice squad for a sexual offense. Strict Islamic Republic dress code.
