The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Iranian banker and businessman Aliakbar Ansari-also known as Ali Ansari-for allegedly funding Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The decision, announced on October 30, marks another escalation in London’s efforts to counter what it calls “hostile activities” by Iran and its affiliates both inside and outside the UK.

According to the British Foreign Office, Ansari, 56, played a “key financial role” in supporting the IRGC, which the UK government accuses of being involved in “repression, terrorism, and threats to Britain’s national security.” The sanctions include a full asset freeze and a travel ban, effectively cutting off Ansari from any access to his financial interests or properties in Britain.

Hamish Falconer, the UK Minister for the Middle East, said in a statement that the designation “sends a clear message” about Britain’s stance against Iran’s intelligence and military apparatus. “The IRGC’s threats and actions-both in the region and here in the United Kingdom-are intolerable. We will continue to expose and disrupt their financial and operational networks,” Falconer said.

Aliakbar Ansari is far from an ordinary businessman. With dual or multiple citizenships-including reported passports from Cyprus and St. Kitts & Nevis-Ansari has long been a figure of wealth and influence in Iran’s financial sector. He owns extensive assets across the Middle East and Europe, including holdings in banking, real estate, and retail.

Public records reveal that Ansari controls Birch Ventures Limited, a company registered in the Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency known for its favorable tax laws and limited corporate transparency. According to property data, Birch Ventures owns a dozen properties on Bishops Avenue, one of London’s most exclusive........

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