Tehran Summons UK Envoy To Protest New Sanctions

Iran has summoned Britain's ambassador in Tehran, Isabelle Marsh, in response to a series of fresh sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced on Thursday that sanctions will expand following continued human rights violations and hostile actions against its opponents on UK soil.

The amped up sanctions from the UK, one of a long list of countries sanctioning the regime, were branded "continued destructive and interventionist actions" according to state news agency IRNA, Iran's foreign ministry slamming the move as "an illegal and interventionist action".

The new sanctions by London will expand existing penalties imposed by creating new criteria under which individuals and entities can be targeted.

According to AFP, they include any Iranian activities "undermining peace, stability and security in the Middle East and internationally", and the "use and spread of weapons technologies from Iran".

Moscow has been accused of using Iranian-made kamikaze drones in Ukraine, while Tehran is a close strategic ally of Syria, and supports Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The latest measures add to ones already taken by the UK over the Islamic Republic’s response to nationwide protests following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September.

The 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian had been detained for allegedly violating Iran's strict hijab rules for women.

Since the start of 2023, London has imposed dozens of asset freezes and travel bans on Iranian individuals and organizations including IRGC commanders and Tehran's prosecutor general for their role in human rights abuses.