Multiple reports say the UK Home Office has granted licences allowing certain companies linked to Iran and the Kremlin to sponsor work visas for bringing employees to the UK, even though those firms are subject to UK sanctions. The reporting highlights an apparent inconsistency: British nationals are reportedly banned from dealing with specified Russian and Iranian companies, yet some of those entities appear on an official register of companies that hold permission to sponsor workers under the UK’s immigration system. The articles do not indicate that all listed firms are directly involved in the sanctioned activity, but they raise questions about how the sponsorship licensing process aligns with sanctions restrictions. The reports also point to the existence of an official list maintained by the Home Office, which is used to determine which employers can sponsor visa applications. The concern raised across the coverage is that sanctions compliance and visa sponsorship authorisation may not be fully aligned for the relevant entities.