Labour calls for sanctions against Iranian regime leaders
Labour MPs have urged Sir Keir Starmer to impose economic sanctions on elites of the Iranian regime, demanding action against key figures including Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, reports BritPanorama.
Backbenchers emphasized the need to punish “odious regime thugs” like Khamenei, warning that other influential figures such as Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani and Iran’s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf continue to support tyranny in the region without facing repercussions from the UK.
Labour MP Mark Seawards highlighted the regime’s quick succession of extreme figures following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, noting the severe human rights abuses occurring under their watch. “Odious, long-serving regime thugs such as Ali Larijani have overseen mass repression on a scale not seen since Tiananmen Square,” he stated. Seawards insisted that the UK should act swiftly to sanction Iran’s new leaders, sending a clear message of solidarity with those in Iran fighting for change.
Another Labour MP, Luke Akehurst, stressed the urgency in proscribing Tehran’s terror groups and enhancing community protection measures. Khamenei was designated by the US Treasury in 2019 and is said to have close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has been implicated in espionage and violent activities in both the UK and Iran.
Concerns have been raised that non-sanctioned regime figures can still engage in financial activities within Britain, holding valuable assets and conducting business. Reports indicate that senior IRGC members own properties in elite London areas, including exclusive streets known for their wealthy residents.
The new Supreme Leader is also believed to own luxury residences in Kensington, situated near the Israeli embassy. Western intelligence assessments suggest he has engaged in UK property investments through shell companies and other intermediaries. MPs argue that sanctioning these top officials would effectively cut their access to UK financial services while they continue their disruptive actions across the Middle East and beyond.
As discussions around sanctions continue, the political landscape reflects a growing concern about the implications of Iran’s internal politics on international stability.
