Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Monday 24th October 2022

Iran’s human rights record is dire. Through our words and actions, the UK will continue to hold Iran to account.

Iran’s human rights record is dire. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression, religion and belief are all unacceptable in 2022.

The death of Mahsa Amini in Iran was a shocking reminder of the repression faced by women in Iran. The protests send a clear message that the Iranian people are not satisfied with the path their government has taken. We urge Iranian authorities to now listen to their people: respect the right to peaceful assembly, lift internet restrictions, release unfairly detained protesters, and ensure women can play an equal role in society.

The UK’s position is clear: through our words and actions, we will hold Iran to account.

We continue to raise human rights at all appropriate opportunities with the Iranian government and take action with the international community to address Iran’s tragic record of human rights violations.

On 10 October, the UK imposed sanctions on the Morality Police in its entirety, as well as both its chief Mohammed Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi and the Head of the Tehran Division Haj Ahmad Mirzaei. For decades the Morality Police have used the threat of detention and violence to control what Iranian women wear and how they behave in public.

The UK also imposed sanctions on five leading political and security officials for committing serious human rights violations in supressing fuel protests in 2019. Their organisations have also been involved in responding to the current protests.

This brings the total to 85 individuals and two entities designated under the Iran Human Rights sanctions regime. These sanctions send a clear message to the Iranian authorities that they will be held to account for their violation of human rights, the repression of women and girls, and the shocking violence they have inflicted on their own people.

As well as its human rights abuses, the UK will continue its efforts to hold Iran to account for its nuclear escalation and destabilising regional activities. In total the UK has designated over 200 Iranian entities and individuals in relation to human rights abuses, proliferation and terrorism.

Where individuals are designated, these measures include travel bans. A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual to be an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971. 

Iran’s nuclear programme is more advanced than ever, threatening international peace and security. After months of negotiations, a deal was put on the table in March 2022, which would have returned Iran to compliance with its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) commitments and returned the US to the deal. However, Iran refused to seize the opportunity to conclude the deal with continued demands beyond the scope of the JCPoA. We are now considering next steps with our international partners.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office