The United Kingdoms government called in Iran's chief diplomat in Britain on Monday after reporters who work in the country were subjected to threats and harassment by the Iranian government.
The British Foreign Office reported that their Middle East director Vijay Rangarajan met with the Iranian Charge d'Affaires Mehdi Hosseini Matin to "make clear the U.K. will not tolerate threats to life and media freedom."
In a statement, James Cleverly, Foreign Secretary, said, "I am appalled by the Iranian regimes continuing threats to the lives of U.K.-based journalists and have today summoned its representative to make clear this will not be tolerated."
On Saturday, Iran International, a Farsi-language news channel based in London, revealed that it had shifted its transmissions to Washington after being informed by British police about apparent and immediate dangers to Iranian reporters.
Iran International reported that the threats had become so severe that it was impossible to ensure the safety of their reporters.
The Metropolitan Police said there have been "15 plots since the start of 2022 to either kidnap or even kill British or U.K.-based individuals perceived as enemies of the regime," but provided no further details.
The BBC has lodged an appeal with the UN, citing elevated security apprehensions for journalists associated with its Persian arm in the wake of out-of-border threats.
On Monday, the Foreign Office announced sanctions against Iranian authorities for human rights violations. The Iranian punitive actions targeted three senior judges responsible for executing protesters, as well as five commanders of the Revolutionary Guards.
Additional British sanctions on more than fifty Iranian people and organizations came last September as a direct reaction to the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian protester.
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