LONDON: The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on a total of 12 Iran-linked individuals and entities accused of involvement in 'hostile activities' by Tehran.

According to an official statement from the Foreign Office, nine individuals, two shadow banking exchange houses, and the allegedly criminal Zindashti network have been targeted with UK travel bans and asset freezes.

The list includes Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, who was previously sanctioned by both the US and the EU, along with his alleged network.

The UK government has accused the group of conducting assassination and kidnapping operations against critics of the Iranian regime.

This decision comes in the wake of a series of attacks targeting the Jewish community in Britain over recent months.

Officials have repeatedly warned that hostile states are using proxies to carry out such activities.

Among those sanctioned by the UK is Ekrem Abdulkerym Oztunc, the nephew of Zindashti's, as well as five members of the Zarringhalam family accused of financing efforts to 'destabilize' the UK.

Mansour, Nasser and Fazlolah Zarringhalam were previously sanctioned by the US for their involvement in Iran’s shadow banking network, which is believed to have laundered billions of dollars through a series of front companies.

Additionally, London has added Berelian Exchange and GCM Exchange, two US-sanctioned Iran-based exchange houses linked to the aforementioned individuals, to its sanctions list.

Three other individuals, Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan, Reza Hamidiravari, and Namiq Salifov, have also been targeted with UK travel bans and asset freezes.

These measures highlight the ongoing tension between the UK and Iran, as well as the international community's efforts to combat perceived threats from hostile actors.

The full extent of these sanctions and their potential impact on those targeted remains to be seen.