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The UK has sanctioned with immediate effect Iran鈥檚 Prosecutor General, following the execution of British-Iranian dual national Alireza Akbari.

Alireza Akbari was executed by the Iranian regime earlier today 鈥� a politically motivated act which underlines this regime鈥檚 complete disregard for human life. Iran鈥檚 use of the death penalty accelerated in 2022, with a growing number of individuals put to death often after deeply flawed legal processes.

Iran鈥檚 Prosecutor General, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, is one of the most powerful figures in Iran鈥檚 judiciary and responsible for the trial process and the use of the death penalty.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The Prosecutor General is at the heart of Iran鈥檚 barbaric use of the death penalty for political ends.聽Sanctioning him today underlines our disgust at Alireza Akbari鈥檚 execution and聽our commitment to holding the regime to account聽for its appalling聽human rights violations.

While Montazeri has been Prosecutor General, the Iranian regime has also executed 4 individuals in relation to ongoing protests. In response to the brutal crackdown, the UK has imposed more than 40 new sanctions on the regime, including 6 individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts who have been responsible for prosecuting protestors with egregious sentences including the death penalty.

The sanctions impose an asset freeze and UK travel ban on Jafar Motazeri and send a wider signal on the UK鈥檚 commitment to backing condemnation with action.