On January 14, 2023 following the execution in Iran of British-Iranian dual national Alireza Akbari, the UK government designated Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Iranian Prosecutor General, pursuant to the Iran (Sanctions)(Human Rights)(EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Montazeri is, according to UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, “at the heart of Iran’s barbaric use of the death penalty for political ends.” He is responsible for trial processes that have resulted in the execution of four individuals arrested during popular protests taking place in Iran. The UK government has sanctioned six individuals in connection with the crackdown against protesters, as well as imposing more than 40 new sanctions on the Iranian regime.
The sanctions on Montazeri operate to ban him from travel to the United Kingdom, to freeze his assets, and to prohibit UK persons from dealing with Montazeri’s funds or making them available unless licensed to do so by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.