Flurry of statements announce new sanctions on Iran and call for media access to Gaza

Moving away from immigration for a moment, because the Foreign Office has just published a number of statements, addressing issues in the Middle East.

Hamish Falconer, the Middle East minister, has announced new sanctions on one person and three companies, as the government seeks to crackdown on “those who operate on behalf of Iran”.

Hossein Shamkhani, an Iranian oil magnate, has been sanctioned and will be subject to an asset freeze, director disqualification and travel ban. 

Meanwhile, Petrochemcial Commercial Company (PCC), Admiral Group, Ocean Leonid Investments and Milavous Group (Shamkhani’s Dubai-based company) have also been sanctioned.

Falconer said: “Iran’s reliance on revenues from trading networks and connected organisations enables it to carry out its destabilising activities, including supporting proxies and partners across the region and facilitating state threats on UK soil.

“That’s why this government has taken steps to expose this behaviour and send a clear message to those who act on behalf of Iran.”

Separately, the UK has joined 25 other countries in signing a statement calling for journalists to be allowed into Gaza.

The statement, written by the Media Freedom Coalition, calls on Israel to “allow immediate independent foreign media access and afford protection for journalists operating in Gaza”.

It states that journalists play “an essential role” and that “access to conflict zones is vital”.

The statement continues: “We call on the Israeli authorities and all other parties to make every effort to ensure that media workers in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem – local and foreign alike – can conduct their work freely and safely. Deliberate targeting of journalists is unacceptable.”

It also calls for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of the remaining hostages and the “unhindered flow of humanitarian aid”.

The UK has been joined by Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan and Ukraine among other allies in signing the statement.