UK Moves to Designate Iran’s IRGC as Terror Threat

The British government is taking steps to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a threat to national security, utilizing new powers that would criminalize support for state proxies. This initiative follows a series of anti-Semitic attacks in the UK, prompting the government to submit draft regulations to Parliament aimed at banning support for the IRGC. The legislation is part of a broader effort to address foreign state-backed activities, which include espionage, foreign interference, and sabotage.

Once enacted, the law will make it a criminal offense to invite or express support for the IRGC, assist in their activities within the UK, or accept benefits from them. Alongside the IRGC, the government has also designated the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), an Iran-backed group responsible for multiple attacks on Jewish sites, and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps under the new state threats powers.

British police have been investigating a number of anti-Semitic incidents, including the arson of ambulances belonging to a community charity. Three individuals have already been charged in connection with these crimes. If the legislation is approved by Parliament, those found guilty of sabotage on behalf of the designated groups could face life imprisonment.

Caretaker Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that these new powers would facilitate the prosecution of individuals engaging in such activities in the UK. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood noted that Iran and Russia are employing proxies to conduct hostile operations on British soil, and the rapid designation of these groups is intended to ensure accountability.

The proposed legislation is expected to come into effect soon, potentially as early as Friday. This move is likely to exacerbate tensions between the UK and Iran, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper already summoning the Iranian ambassador for discussions. The IRGC has been accused of using proxies to target individuals abroad, particularly within the Jewish community and among Iranian dissidents.

Tehran has denied allegations of using proxies, while the UK government has highlighted the GRU’s involvement in foreign intelligence and covert operations against the UK and its allies. The new legal framework will allow prosecutors to act against designated groups without needing to prove a direct connection to a foreign power, marking a significant shift in the UK’s approach to national security threats.