Assuming presidency of UN Security Council, UK vows to ‘lead int’l opposition’ to Iran

In the first week of its presidency of the United Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom displays an aggressive stance toward Iran, announcing a raft of new sanctions over human rights abuses. The Foreign Office announces 13 individuals and entities involved in torture in prisons, surveillance of regime opponents and repression of women. These come on top of over 350 UK sanctions already in place.

The UK will also “lead international opposition to Iran’s weapons proliferation and nuclear escalation” at the Security Council, it says, adding that it plans to denounce Tehran’s behavior at today’s meeting, which will be attended by Iran’s ambassador to the UN.

London also gave new evidence to UNSC members that Iran is continuing to send weapons to Houthis in Yemen and to Russia.

“The Iranian regime is oppressing its own people, exporting bloodshed in Ukraine and the Middle East, and threatening to kill and kidnap on UK soil,” says Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in a statement. “Today the UK has sent a clear message to the regime — we will not tolerate this malign behavior and we will hold you to account. Our new sanctions regime will help to ensure there can be no hiding place for those who seek to do us harm.”