London Names an IRGC Counter-Espionage Chief and a Zindashti Network Facilitator as Brussels Renews Its Chemical Weapons List
On the afternoon of 12 October 2026 the United Kingdom designated two Iranian nationals under The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 for hostile activity on behalf of the Iranian state. Ruhollah Bazghandi, also recorded as Rouhollah Azimi, is described by the Foreign Secretary as head of counter-espionage operations within the IRGC; the UK says he planned or conducted espionage and threatened, planned or conducted attacks on people and assets in the UK and elsewhere. Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki, also recorded as Farhad Ali Tamarzadeh, is described as a facilitator of the Zindashti criminal network involved in plots against Iranian dissidents. Both face an asset freeze, a travel ban and director disqualification, and both were already on OFAC's SDN List, where one of Bazghandi's two entries gives a different date of birth. OFSI also issued a general licence for ground rent and service charge payments by designated tenants, and the EU extended its chemical weapons regime to 2031 and its listings to October 2027.
This issue
- New designations
- 2
- Removals
- 0
- Entries amended
- 0
- Sources monitored
- 97
Two Designations Aimed at Iran's Operations Abroad
On the afternoon of 12 October 2026, after our previous edition had gone out, the FCDO, with OFSI and OTSI, designated two individuals under The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 (IRN0282 and IRN0283). Ruhollah Bazghandi, also recorded as Rouhollah Azimi, was born on 20 September 1981 in Sabzevar and is listed with Iranian passport D10008106 and an address in Tehran. The UK's statement of reasons says he has been involved in hostile activity by the Government of Iran by planning or conducting espionage and by threatening, planning or conducting attacks against persons and assets in the United Kingdom or elsewhere outside Iran. The Foreign Secretary's statement describes him as head of counter-espionage operations within the IRGC.
Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki, also recorded as Farhad Ali Tamarzadeh, was born on 31 May 1972 and is designated for supporting or assisting attacks against persons in a country other than Iran. The Foreign Secretary describes him as a facilitator of the Zindashti criminal network involved in several plots against Iranian dissidents. Both men face an asset freeze, a travel ban and director disqualification. The Foreign Office summoned Iran's ambassador the same day, and the government says it has now sanctioned more than 550 Iranian individuals and entities.
Party detail
Every row below was read against the issuing authority's own notice, not against a press report. Aliases are reproduced in full, including non Latin script forms, because the alias field is where a screening run usually fails. Identifiers are published sanctions data.
| Party | Action and instrument | Identifiers | Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruhollah Bazghandi | DesignationThe Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 | Date of birth: 20 Sep 1981Place of birth: Sabzevar, IranNationality: IranianPassport: D10008106Address: Tehran, Iran | Head of counter-espionage operations within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as described by the Foreign Secretary on 12 October 2026. UK statement of reasons: reasonable grounds to suspect that BAZGHANDI is an involved person under The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023, having been involved in hostile activity by the Government of Iran (1) by planning or conducting espionage for the Government of Iran and (2) by threatening, planning or conducting attacks against persons and assets in the United Kingdom or a country other than Iran |
| Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki | DesignationThe Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 | Date of birth: 31 May 1972Nationality: Iranian | Facilitator of the Zindashti criminal network, involved in several plots against Iranian dissidents, as described by the Foreign Secretary on 12 October 2026. UK statement of reasons: reasonable grounds to suspect that JAKKI is an involved person under The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023, being or having been involved in hostile activity by the Government of Iran through conduct which gives support or assistance to threatening, planning or conducting attacks against persons in a country other than Iran |
What this means for your organisation
- 01
Freeze and screen the two new UK designations: Load Ruhollah Bazghandi (a.k.a. Rouhollah Azimi, Persian spelling included, passport D10008106) and Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki (a.k.a. Farhad Ali Tamarzadeh), and apply the director disqualification to any UK company records.
- 02
Re-label existing OFAC alerts on both men: Add the UK references IRN0282 and IRN0283 to open and closed cases, and keep the 7 March 1981 OFAC date of birth as an alternative rather than a reason to discount a match.
- 03
Apply OFSI General Licence INT/2026/10050568 to leasehold payments: Process ground rent and service charges from designated tenants only into UK landlord or agent accounts, for leases that pre-date the designation, and keep records for six years.
- 04
Roll the EU chemical weapons listings forward: Keep every entry under Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 active and diarise the next review for 30 October 2027.
Where this issue came from
The map plots the sources Youverify monitors. The pulsing markers are the three authorities cited in this issue: FCDO, UK-OFSI and the Council of the European Union. Hover any marker to name the sources read there.
Method statement
Both parties are read verbatim from the UK Sanctions List file generated on 12 October 2026 and compared, record by record, with the 8 October file read for the previous edition. Roles are taken from the Foreign Secretary's statement of 12 October. Each party was checked by name, date of birth and passport number against the OFAC SDN, EU and UN lists. The OFSI licence and the EU decision are read from the licence text and the Official Journal.
Corrections
No corrections issued for this issue. Corrections are published on the issue they affect, dated, with the original text retained.Cite this issue
Vyra from Youverify. "London Names an IRGC Counter-Espionage Chief and a Zindashti Network Facilitator as Brussels Renews Its Chemical Weapons List." Youverify Sanctions Monitor, issue 145, 13 October 2026. https://youverify.co/en/sanctions/2026-10-13. Accessed 13 October 2026.