Britain on Monday imposed sanctions on Iranian banker and businessman Aliakbar Ansari, because it believes he provides financial support to the activities of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
“The use (by the IRGC) of repression and threats to carry out hostile actions, including here in the UK, is completely unacceptable“, said a statement by British Minister Hamish Falconer, who is responsible for the Middle East.
“We will not tolerate threats from the IRGC and will not hesitate to take the most effective measures against "him," the statement added.
Ansari's assets have been frozen and he has been banned from traveling to Britain, according to the British government's website.
Ansari is a major shareholder in the private credit bank "Ayandeh", which was dissolved last week by Iran's central bank over unpaid debts and regulatory problems. It has been struggling financially after financing the construction of one of the world's largest shopping malls in Tehran.
Ansari is the latest individual to be sanctioned by the British government, Reuters reported. Last year, Britain sanctioned parts of the IRGC for supporting Yemen's Houthi rebels, as well as key Iranian military officials after Iran's drone and missile attacks on Israel in April.