US and British sanctions on “a network targeting Iranian dissidents”

The sanctions included members of Unit 840 of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (Reuters)

The United States and the United Kingdom announced the imposition of sanctions on a network that the two countries say targets and kills Iranian dissidents and activists in several countries.

The US Treasury Department said - in a statement - that the network, which is said to be operating “at the request of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security,” carried out assassinations and kidnappings in several countries.

This group works to silence opponents of the Iranian regime, according to the ministry, which indicated that the network also planned operations in the United States.

This package of sanctions directly targets five individuals, most notably Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, who the US Department said is a drug trafficker.

As for the rest of those targeted by the sanctions, they are members of his family and an official in the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security who supervises some of Sharifi-Zindashti’s operations, according to the US Treasury.

The ministry added, "The Zindashti network was linked to murders in several countries," including the UAE, Canada, and Turkey.

The United Kingdom said - in a separate statement - that it would impose "sanctions on 7 individuals and one organization, including senior Iranian officials and members of organized criminal gangs cooperating with the regime."

According to the British Foreign Office, the sanctions were imposed in coordination with the United States.

Among them are members of Unit 840 of the Revolutionary Guard, against the backdrop of “plots to assassinate two TV presenters for the Iran International news channel on British soil.”

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement: “The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs working on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the security of the United Kingdom.”

He added, "The United Kingdom and the United States have sent a clear message that we will not tolerate this threat."

Brian Nelson, Undersecretary of the US Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said: “The Iranian regime’s continued efforts to target opponents and activists reflect the regime’s deep insecurity and its attempt to expand Iranian internal repression at the international level,” he said.

Source: Reuters