UK sanctions Zarringhalam network over plots, laundering

On May 11, 2026 the UK government imposed sanctions on 12 individuals and entities linked to the Zarringhalam family and the Zindashti criminal network. Authorities allege the targets planned attacks in the United Kingdom and laundered billions through informal financial channels.

The designation names members of the Zarringhalam family and two Iranian exchange houses, Berelian Exchange and GCM Exchange. According to the UK government, those exchange houses provided the financial plumbing that allowed sanctioned Iranian interests to move funds outside the regulated banking system.

The measures include asset freezes on any holdings within UK jurisdiction and travel bans that bar the named individuals from entering or transiting the country. The sanctions also place the designated entities on lists used by banks and payment processors for screening; institutions that facilitate transactions for listed parties can face penalties under UK law.

UK authorities used the term shadow banking to describe the informal services involved: exchange houses, hawala-style transfer networks and informal ledger systems that leave little documentary trace. The government noted the alleged laundering amounted to billions and indicated the methods appeared organized rather than ad hoc.

Officials linked the financial activity to planning for hostile acts on UK soil, indicating the same networks were used to fund operational behavior that posed a security risk in Britain. The stated aim of the sanctions is to disrupt those informal pipelines and reduce the ability of the designated actors to move money internationally.

The action aligns with recent U.S. measures that restrict Iran’s access to funds, including revenue tied to oil sales and financing connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Since 2022 the UK has added more than 550 individuals and organizations to its sanctions lists for activities such as assassination plots and kidnappings.

By publicly naming specific people and firms, the UK creates compliance obligations for financial institutions worldwide. The government emphasized the focus is on traditional informal banking systems rather than on digital-asset channels.