UK sanctions Iran interior minister, other officials over protester crackdown

Measures including asset freeze and travel ban placed on minister, senior police chiefs, Revolutionary Guard figures, judges and a security agency for human rights violations

The United Kingdom on Monday sanctioned 10 individuals, including Iran’s interior minister and police chiefs, for their roles in “recent brutality against protesters,” the British foreign ministry said.

Those sanctioned include the Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA), interior minister Eskandar Momeni, two Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) officers, senior police chiefs, an Iranian businessman linked to the IRGC, and two judges accused of directing violent repression, excessive sentencing, or rights-abusing proceedings.

“The Iranian people have shown extreme courage in the face of brutality and repression over recent weeks simply for exercising their right to peaceful protest,” said UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper.

“The reports and shocking scenes of violence that have been seen around the world are horrific,” Cooper said, adding that this package of sanctions seeks to hold Iran’s authorities “to account” for the crackdown.

The measures involve asset freezes and travel bans, the government said.

Iran’s authorities have said the protests, which were sparked by economic strain and exploded in size and intensity over several days in early January, were “riots” inflamed by its arch foes, the United States and Israel.

Bodies lie in body bags on the ground as people stand amid the scene outside Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre in Tehran, Iran, in this screen capture from a video obtained from social media, January 11, 2026. (Social Media/via REUTERS)

Tehran has acknowledged thousands of deaths during the protests, and on Sunday, the presidency published the names of 2,986 people out of the 3,117 whom authorities said were killed in the unrest.

Authorities insist most were members of the security forces and innocent bystanders, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts.”

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it has confirmed 6,842 deaths, mostly protesters killed by security forces, though rights groups warn that the figure is likely far higher.

The Iranian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The UK government said the action follows sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States to hold the Iranian authorities to account. EU foreign ministers last week included the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the bloc’s list of terrorist organizations.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks to the media at 1 Carlton Gardens in London on January 19, 2026. (Jack Taylor / POOL / AFP)

Amid a US naval buildup following last month’s deadly protest crackdown, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are planning to meet on Friday in Istanbul to discuss a possible nuclear deal and other issues, a US official said on Monday.

Iran’s reaction to rising international pressure escalated on Sunday, when the speaker of its parliament said Tehran now considered the armies of EU member states “terrorist groups” after the bloc listed the Revolutionary Guards as such.