UK expands Iran sanctions to energy, finance, shipping; Azerbaijan gas exemptions

The UK will broaden sanctions on Iran from September 29, extending restrictions to energy, finance, shipping, and aviation sectors. Planned licenses will permit continued activities related to Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field, indicating a targeted approach to avoid disrupting regional energy supplies. This escalation follows a pattern of Western pressure on Iran, but the specific sectoral expansion and the Azerbaijani carve-out are notable for their precision.