Two Royal Navy commanders, who captained warships involved in shooting down Houthi rebel drones and missiles, have been sanctioned by the Iranian regime.
The UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is also on the list of officials, senior military figures, companies and assets on both sides of the Atlantic targeted by the government in Tehran.
Commander Peter Evans is currently stationed in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, at the helm of HMS Diamond.
The Type 45 air defence destroyer is part of the multinational force protecting commercial shipping in the region from regular drone and missile attacks launched by Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
HMS Diamond has operated in the region since March, having taken over from HMS Richmond
MOD
HMS Diamond has herself been included in the list of assets sanctioned by the Iranians.
The destroyer has proved to be a thorn in the side of the Houthis. By the end of last year, her crew had shot down nine drones launched from Yemen by the rebels.
After a short logistics stop in Gibraltar, Diamond is back on station in the region. Just last week she intercepted and destroyed a missile targeting a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.
The second Royal Navy commander sanctioned by Tehran is Richard Kemp, who captained the Type 23 Frigate HMS Richmond, which was also involved in intercepting Houthi drone and missile strikes in the region.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali KhameneiGETTYAlong with their boss, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, the Iranians have also slapped sanctions on James Hockenhull, Commander of the British Army Strategic Command, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Sharon Nesmith.
Another asset sanctioned is the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus, which has been used to support RAF Typhoon strikes on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen.
Announcing their new raft of sanctions in a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates the following indivduals and entities of the UK regime in its sanction list for deliberate support and facilitation of the Israel Zionist regime’s actions, including committing terrorist acts against regional and international peace and security, systematic violation of human rights, warmongering, use of heavy weaponry and prohibited weapons against civilians, blocked, displacement of the Palestinian people, expansion of illegal settlement in occupied territory, and continuation of occupation.”
The Iranians also announced sanctions against US firms Lockheed Martin and Chevron, as well several US officials and other American citizens.
Grant Shapps has been sanctioned by Iran
PA
The impact of any Iranian imposed sanctions on individuals, assets and companies is still unclear, but likely to be limited.
A senior UK Defence source told GB News: “None of the UK individuals sanctioned by the Iranians have any money invested with Iranian financial institutions, nor are they planning to holiday in Tehran any time soon.”
Source Agencies
