UK Sanctions 12 Iran-Linked Targets for Hostile Acts

Britain imposed sanctions on Monday against 12 individuals and entities linked to Iran, accusing them of involvement in hostile activities targeting the United Kingdom and other countries. The measures, announced by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, include travel bans, asset freezes and director disqualification orders aimed at disrupting criminal networks and illicit finance operations.

The sanctions target nine individuals, two exchange houses and the Zindashti criminal network. Among those designated are Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, already sanctioned by Britain, the United States and the European Union as the leader of an international drug trafficking cartel connected to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security. His nephew, Turkish national Ekrem Abdulkerym Oztunc, is also included. Five members of the Zarringhalam family, Farhad, Fazlolah, Mansour, Nasser and Pouria, face restrictions for allegedly financing efforts to destabilize the UK. Mansour, Nasser and Fazlolah Zarringhalam were previously sanctioned by the US Treasury for involvement in Iran's shadow banking network, which authorities said laundered billions of dollars through front...