The Foreign Office said the sanctioned Iranian officials are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a branch of the Iranian military which broadcaster ITV linked to a plot to kill two journalists on British soil in a recent investigation.
But the sanctions fall short of a full proscription of the IRGC, a step called for by some British lawmakers who want it designated as a terrorist group.
“The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the U.K.’s security,” Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement.
He added: “The U.K. and U.S. have sent a clear message – we will not tolerate this threat.”
The curbs come amid heightened tensions between U.S. allies and Iran, although are not being directly linked by the U.K. government to the latest flare-up.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday urged Iran to “de-escalate” after three U.S. troops were killed in a drone strike on an American base in Jordan. The U.S. and U.K. have blamed Iran-backed militants for the attack, although Tehran has denied playing a role.
