The UK sanctions Iran after the UN sanctions were announced this weekend. Image Credit: AP/ Ronald Zak
(The Post News) – On Monday, the United Kingdom (UK) government announced that it would be expanding its sanctions against Iran in an effort to disrupt its “nuclear proliferation”.
British officials announced that they would have added 71 more individuals and entities to their sanctions. According to Reuters, some of these designations include Iran’s nuclear programme officials, financial institutions, and energy facilities, who will now face asset freezes, financial restrictions and travel bans in Britain.
The UK Follows the UN
The announcement comes after the United Nations reimposed its sanctions and arms embargo against Iran on Sunday. The reinstation was supported by the three leading European powers, the UK, France and Germany.
The European leaders hope that in the 30 days left before the sanctions are implemented, they can forcefully restart diplomatic talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.
A deal struck by Tehran and Western leaders in 2015 permitted Iran to continue its nuclear programme, provided it limited activities to peaceful purposes. However, Iran broke this agreement by enriching uranium to levels suitable for nuclear weapons.
Iran remains insistent that they are not producing nuclear weapons; however, this cannot be proven by the inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The British officials said that these sanctions are due to an “insufficient response” from Iran in addition to the broken nuclear deal.
The UK government is still offering Iran a six-month extension from the sanctions.
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