Britain has announced plans to pursue additional sanctions against Iran and has summoned Tehran’s ambassador to London in response to what it described as disturbing reports of a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the United Kingdom would introduce new legislation to expand sanctions and sectoral measures against Iran. The move follows mass demonstrations across the country calling for an end to the clerical system that has ruled since 1979. Activists say at least 648 people have been killed during the unrest, much of which has unfolded amid an internet blackout.
Cooper told MPs that while the UK has already sanctioned key figures and entities linked to Iran’s oil, energy, nuclear and financial sectors, the government now intends to broaden its approach. The new measures would target actors in finance, energy, transport, software, and other industries that Britain says are contributing to Iran’s nuclear escalation.
She added that London would coordinate closely with the European Union and international partners on any further steps.
The foreign secretary also confirmed that Iran’s ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Office “to underline the gravity of this moment” and to demand answers over what she described as “horrific reports” emerging from the country.
Cooper warned that the available information may not fully reflect the scale of the violence. “I fear these reports may underestimate the full extent of the horror,” she said, stressing that the international community was closely watching developments.
“The UK will continue to confront the regime’s disinformation, call out its repression, and take the steps necessary to protect our interests,” Cooper concluded.
The announcement signals a further hardening of Britain’s stance toward Tehran as international pressure mounts over Iran’s handling of the protests and its broader regional and nuclear activities.
