The Supreme Council of Cyberspace was created by decree in 2012 by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Seyyed Ali KHAMENEI . It is called "Supreme Council" because it answers directly to KHAMENEI. As an organisation, it has been sanctioned by the US since 2018 but it was not listed by the EU or the UK until 6 July.

Indeed as of today, the UN (at https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/sanctioned-person/supreme-coun…) lists it as not subject to EU or UK sanctions.

The US sanctions, the Treasury says, were because "Since its creation, and for the purported purpose of 'protecting the country from negative content of cyberspace,' the Supreme Council of Cyberspace has continued the Iranian regime's blocking of many social media sites and other Internet censorship efforts. " and "the Supreme Council of Cyberspace oversees the Iranian regime's disruption of the free flow of information by restricting access to tens of thousands of websites, particularly those of international news sources, anti-regime outlets, ethnic and religious minorities, human rights groups, and popular social media sites."

The EU and UK's reasons are more vague "The Supreme Council of Cyber Space is an involved person within the meaning of the Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 as it is or has been involved in the commission of serious human rights [breaches] in Iran, including being responsible for, engaging in
and promoting [breaches] of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly."

In 2020 campaigning group Reporters Without Borders produced a report (which we cannot find) that was widely reported. It is reported that RSF or RWB (it has an identity crisis, even within individual pages on its website) the "Council uses "online selective access and control," and blocks news websites, platforms, and apps such as Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter to enforce state censorship [and] consisting of senior military and political figures and is "constructing a firewall using Internet filtering techniques."

The inclusion of the Council and those associated with it is under Human Rights legislation, and has - overtly, nothing to do with the nuclear issue.

However, Iran is far from the only country that is adopting similar policies and therefore it is logical to assume that there is something more than simply blocking the internet behind the listing.

Full list: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo…