The UK Foreign Secretary announced today that the government is reimposing major economic sanctions on Iran, in line with measures taken by the European Union and the United States. This action comes as the UK, alongside its allies, prepares to report Iran to the UN Security Council this week for its nuclear violations.
In addition to the sanctions on Iran, the UK has also designated and sanctioned Lebanese Hezbollah’s financing arm, Al-Qard Al-Hassan. The Foreign Secretary stated that the UK will continue to co-operate with Israel on shared national security interests, including tackling threats from Iran and its proxy groups.
The Foreign Secretary also announced an additional investment of £250 million for community security in the UK to address rising antisemitism. In October, the UK will host representatives from the J7, countries with the largest Jewish populations, to discuss cross-border efforts to combat antisemitism, including online hate.
The statement also outlined a new approach to the Israel-Palestine situation, with the two-state solution remaining the government's policy. The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the suffering in Gaza and the increase in settlements in the West Bank, noting that around 770,000 settlers now live in the occupied Palestinian territories, up from 270,000 in 1993.