LONDON: Britain on Monday vowed more reprisals against what it said was Tehran鈥檚 鈥渨eakened and isolated regime鈥� after it executed a UK-Iranian dual national.
Following the killing of Alireza Akbari, the UK summoned Iran鈥檚 most senior diplomat and recalled its own ambassador.
But despite slapping sanctions on Iran鈥檚 prosecutor general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri it stopped short of opposition demands to ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Faced with more such demands in parliament, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he could not comment on future proscriptions.
But he said: 鈥淲e do not limit ourselves to the steps that I have already announced.鈥�
And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak鈥檚 spokesman told reporters: 鈥淲e are reviewing further action with our international partners.鈥�
British MPs voted last week in favor of adding the IRGC to a list of banned terrorist organizations in the UK.
But the government is wrestling with the fate of other dual nationals held by the Islamic regime, and with the strategic aim of restoring an international nuclear pact with Iran.
Cleverly was nevertheless outspoken in denouncing Iran鈥檚 leadership after Akbari, 61, was hanged allegedly for spying on Britain鈥檚 behalf.
He told MPs that 鈥渨e are witnessing the vengeful actions of a weakened and isolated regime, obsessed with suppressing its own people, debilitated by its own fear of losing power and wrecking its international reputation.鈥�
鈥淥ur message to that regime is clear: the world is watching you and you will be held to account, particularly by the brave Iranian people, so many of whom you are oppressing and killing.鈥�