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UK imposes sanctions on son of Iranian military aide to Khamenei
Oil magnate Hossein Shamkhani among five names added to UK sanctions List
The UK has imposed sanctions on Iranian oil magnate Hossein Shamkhani, the son of a close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Shamkhani and four companies are accused of backing Tehran’s overseas operations, including activities in Israel and in Ukraine.
A former defense minister and longtime secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani remains a senior adviser to Khamenei.
Israel had attacked the penthouse apartment belonging to Ali Shamkhani,with a missile when it launched military strikes against Iran on June 13th.
Weeks later he was seen struggling to walk with a cane at a funeral procession for military commanders killed in conflict with Israel.
Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer confirmed: “Today, the UK is announcing sanctions against those who operate on behalf of Iran, fuelling its attempts to undermine stability in the Middle East and global security.
“Iran’s reliance on revenues from trading networks and connected organisations enables it to carry out its destabilising activities, including supporting proxies and partners across the region and facilitating state threats on UK soil.
“That’s why this government has taken steps to expose this behaviour and send a clear message to those who act on behalf of Iran.
“Disrupting Iran’s malign influence and keeping the British people safe remains our number one priority, underpinned by our Plan for Change.
“We are clear that we will continue to hold Iran to account, and today’s designations mark a definitive step in doing so.”
The Board of Deputies has been among the communal organisations urging the UK to take tough against Tehran.
Shamkhani is listed under multiple aliases including “Hector,” and was among the five new entries added to the UK Sanctions List, which freezes their assets and bars UK nationals and firms from doing business with them.
The companies designated were Admiral Shipping Group, Milavous Group, Ocean Leonid Investments, and Iran’s Petrochemical Commercial Company.
The targeted companies operate in the shipping, petrochemical, and financial sectors, according to the UK government.
The move follows similar sanctions placed on Shamkhani by the US administration against his “global shipping empire” that moved Iranian and Russian oil, generating billions of dollars.
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