Iran imposed on Monday sanctions on the UK’s domestic spy agency (MI5) and military along with British and German political figures.
The move comes in response to the “illegal sanctions” imposed on Tehran by Europe, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani.
During a weekly press conference, Kanaani accused the Europeans and British of “intervening in the domestic affairs” of Iran, revealing that the sanctions “are coming into effect today.”
Britain and Germany have been particularly vocal in their criticism of Iran's response to almost three months of protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, last September, three days after her arrest by the morality police who accused her of violating Iran's dress code for women.
Iran imposed its sanctions on 32 individuals and entities ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.
The ministers issued a statement Monday urging Tehran to cease its destabilizing activities in the form of political, military or financial support, including to non-state actors, in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.
“The EU urges Iran to stop all actions or attempts that disrupt or threaten the safety and freedom of navigation in and around maritime routes in the wider Gulf region,” the EU ministers said.
Iran’s sanctions list named Ken McCallum, director general of domestic spy agency MI5, and Chief of the Defense Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.
Others sanctioned include current and former members of the British parliament and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Several German political figures and companies are also listed. These include Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, former head of the Christian Democratic Union party, and Claudia Roth, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
Also sanctioned are the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and the Persian-language division of Radio Free Europe, a sister network of Voice of America.
Those sanctioned will not be able to enter Iran, and they will be subject to asset freezes.
Last month, Britain and the EU expanded sanctions against Iranian officials and organizations over Iran's protest crackdown.
On Friday, Britain announced further sanctions after Iran carried out its first announced execution connected with the protests.
Last Thursday, Iran has announced the first execution of a protester, Mohsen Shekari, convicted over the recent anti-government unrest.
