The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the British government’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat and to criminalize support for the powerful military branch within the United Kingdom.
The move by London effectively treats the state-backed group with the same severity as a proscribed terrorist organization, a step British lawmakers have debated for years.
Tehran’s Reaction: “An Act of Provocation”
In an official statement released via its Telegram channel, Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected the UK’s legal move, defending the IRGC’s status as a legitimate state entity.
- Official Status: Tehran emphasized that the IRGC is an integral part of the official armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, sharing equal responsibility with the regular army for protecting Iran’s territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and security.
- Violation of International Law: A spokesperson for the ministry dismissed the UK’s decision as a “petty, provocative act that violates international law,” warning that the allegations of state-sponsored hostile operations on British soil are entirely groundless.
The UK’s Crackdown on Foreign State Proxies
The designation was made possible following the fast-tracked passage of the landmark National Security (State Threats) Act 2026. Previously, UK counter-terrorism laws only allowed for the proscription of non-state terrorist organizations. The new 2026 legal framework closes this loophole, allowing the Home Secretary to ban state-linked entities caught operating maliciously on British soil.
[ New UK State Threat Legal Framework ]
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[ Supporting / Promoting ] [ Espionage / Sabotage ]
Facing up to **14 years in prison** Facing potential **life imprisonment**
for funding, joining, or publicly for carrying out direct operations,
assisting designated groups. arson, or cyberattacks on UK soil.
Why the UK Acted Now
According to Home Office officials, British intelligence services (MI5) identified at least 20 potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots targeting political dissidents, Persian-language media journalists, and the Jewish community in the UK over a short period.
Security Minister Angela Eagle noted that the IRGC had “almost certainly” directed a proxy network called the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), which claimed responsibility for seven local attacks, including a March 2026 arson attack on Jewish community ambulances in North London.
Alongside the IRGC and the IMCR, the UK government also designated Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps under the same state-threat black list.
In His Own Words: Prime Minister Keir Starmer
“We have already taken tough action against the Iranian regime and those linked to it, and against Russian operatives and networks targeting our country. These new powers will make it easier to prosecute and lock up anyone carrying out their dirty work here in Britain. Anyone acting on behalf of those who threaten our national security should be in no doubt that there is no place for you in Britain.” — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Diplomatic experts warn that this designation will likely push UK-Iran diplomatic ties to a historic low, with officials anticipating that Tehran may retaliate by expelling the British Ambassador and closing the UK embassy in Iran.
