Introduction
1. The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 (the “UK Regulations") were made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and provide for the imposition of financial sanctions, namely the freezing of funds and economic resources of persons who are or have been involved in the commission of a serious human rights violations or abuse in Iran; or hostile activity by the Government of Iran or an armed group backed by the Government of Iran.
2. On 14 December 2023 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the UK Sanctions List to reflect changes to those persons designated under the UK Regulations. A link to the UK Sanctions List can be found below.
3. The Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021 (the “Order"), made under the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019 (“SAFL"), links to the UK Regulations.
4. Any changes to asset-freeze designations made under the UK Regulations are effective immediately by virtue of the ambulatory provisions in Jersey's sanctions legislation.
5. An asset freeze now applies to the individuals and entities listed in the Annex to this Notice under Part 3 of SAFL.
Notice summary
6. 173 entries have been amended to transfer them from the Iran (Human Rights) regime to the new Iran regime and are still subject to an asset freeze.
7. All entries transferred to the Iran regime have been amended to:
8. Amendments to identifying information made following the transfer to the new Iran regime have been highlighted with underline and italics, or strikethrough.
9. The following designations have been made and are now subject to an asset freeze:
Esmail QAANI (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16329)
Mohammed Saeed IZADI (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16331)
Ali Marshad SHIRAZI (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16332)
Majid ZAREE (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16333)
Mostafa Majid KHANI (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16334)
Khaled QADDOUMI (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16335)
Nasser ABU SHARIF (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16336)
ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS QUDS FORCE (IRGC-QF) PALESTINE BRANCH (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16330)
10. Find full details in the Annex to this notice.
What you must do
11. You must:
immediately check whether you maintain any accounts or hold any funds or economic resources for the persons set out in the Annex to this Notice.
freeze such accounts, and other funds or economic resources without prior notice and without delay.
refrain from dealing with the funds or assets or making them available (directly or indirectly) to such persons unless licensed by the Minister for External Relations (“MER").
report any findings to MER, together with any additional information that would facilitate compliance with SAFL.
provide any information concerning the frozen assets of designated persons that MER may request. Information reported to MER may be passed on to other regulatory authorities or law enforcement.
12. Failure to comply with sanctions legislation or to seek to circumvent its provisions is a criminal offence.
Further Information
13. Find guidance on unfreezing assets for delisted persons or entities.
14. Find more information on sanctions or sanctions on Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).
15. Jersey guidance the Iran sanctions regime is available on sanctions by country and category on JFSC.
16. A copy of the UK Regulations can be obtained from legislation.gov.uk. Other relevant information about this regime can be found on financial sanctions targets by regime on GOV.UK.
17. The UK Sanctions List on GOV.UK
18. The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation Consolidated List on GOV.UK
Enquiries
19. Non-media enquiries, sanctions compliance reporting, and licence applications should be emailed to the Financial Sanctions Implementation Unit at sanctions@gov.je.
Annex
20. Annex to Financial Sanctions Notice Iran 14 December 2023