UK imposes sanctions on 10 Iranian officials, FARAJA

Here’s the key update we’ll be learning from today, 2 February 2026: the UK has named ten Iranian officials and one organisation for serious human rights violations linked to recent and earlier protests. Those listed now face asset freezes, travel bans and director disqualification orders. The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the moves hold the Iranian authorities to account for violence against peaceful demonstrators. (gov.uk)

This package follows firm pledges in mid‑January and aligns with actions by partners. The European Union added new human‑rights listings on 29 January, and the U.S. Treasury followed with additional sanctions on 30 January. G7 foreign ministers also warned on 15 January that further measures would come if the crackdown continued. (consilium.europa.eu)

One organisation is central to the UK notice: Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces, known as FARAJA, the nationwide police body that has policed street protests. The UK states FARAJA is now subject to a director disqualification and an asset freeze. (gov.uk)

Who are the people named? The list includes Eskandar Momeni, Iran’s Interior Minister, held responsible for police violence; Mohammad Reza Hashemifar, the police chief in Lorestan; Seyed Majid Feiz Jafari, who leads the Public Security Police; Yadollah Bouali, the IRGC commander for Fars Province; and Babak Zanjani, a businessman accused of enabling IRGC activity. (gov.uk)

Also designated are Colonel Ahmed Amini, cited for abuses in Noor in 2024; Mohammad Ghanbari, commander of the Criminal Investigation Police; Ahmad Darvish Goftar, a Rasht revolutionary court judge linked to a 2024 death sentence for a labour activist; Mehdi Rasakhi, another Rasht judge known for heavy sentences on women’s and labour activists; and Mohammad Zamani, an IRGC officer accused of multiple violations. (gov.uk)

Quick definitions you can teach with: an asset freeze stops UK people and firms from dealing with money or economic resources owned or controlled by a listed person, and blocks resources being provided to them. A travel ban means the individual must be refused entry to, or permission to stay in, the UK. Director disqualification makes it an offence for a designated person to act as a director of a UK company or take part in running one, unless licensed. (gov.uk)

Who must comply and how? UK sanctions rules apply to everyone in the UK and to all UK persons anywhere in the world, including British nationals and UK‑incorporated companies. Enforcement runs through the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (financial measures) and the Insolvency Service (director bans), with narrow licensing routes for exceptions. If you work in finance, education, or student societies, it’s good practice to check names against the official list before any payments, partnerships or events. (gov.uk)

The UK frames today’s action as part of a wider accountability push. Officials say more than 550 Iran‑related sanctions are already in place, including against the IRGC as a whole, with over 90 tied to human‑rights abuses. In Geneva, a United Nations Human Rights Council special session on 23 January extended mandates to monitor the situation and called for an urgent investigation into the protest crackdown. (gov.uk)

If you’re studying this, trace the sequence: protests swelled at the end of December 2025; G7 ministers warned on 15 January; the UN met in special session on 23 January; the EU adopted new listings on 29 January; the U.S. followed on 30 January; and the UK package landed on 2 February. This is a clear example of how international responses are built step by step, and how different institutions play distinct roles. (gov.uk)

What to watch next: G7 ministers said they stand ready to go further if violence continues, and the UK Sanctions List was updated today with eleven new Iran designations. For students and educators doing research projects, the safest source for verifying names, dates and measures is the UK Sanctions List itself, which shows live updates and the precise legal basis. (gov.uk)