UK set to proscribe Iran's IRGC as terrorist group amid spike in antisemitic incidents
The United Kingdom is expected to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, according to government sources familiar with the matter. The move comes after a series of antisemitic attacks and hostile activities on British soil that authorities have linked to the IRGC and its affiliated proxies.
The British government will also outlaw an Islamist militant group that claimed responsibility for setting fire to four Jewish community ambulances in north London and for plotting attacks on Jewish-linked sites, including the Israeli Embassy. The group's name has not been officially disclosed, but it is believed to be linked to Iran's network of armed groups.
The IRGC is a branch of Iran's armed forces that oversees the country's ballistic missile programme and its nuclear ambitions. It has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United States since 2019, but the UK has so far only imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the corps. Proscription would make membership in or support for the IRGC a criminal offence in the UK, carrying a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.
British officials have linked the IRGC and its proxies to a series of hostile activities on British soil, including suspected bombing plots and assassination attempts targeting Iranian dissidents, journalists, and activists living in Britain. The government has also pointed to a rise in antisemitic incidents across the country, which it says have been fuelled by Iran's state-sponsored rhetoric and support for militant groups.
Interior Minister Suella Braverman is expected to lay a formal order before Parliament this week, paving the way for the proscription. The move would require parliamentary approval within 40 days, but given the cross-party consensus on countering Iranian aggression, it is widely expected to pass.
The decision has been months in the making, following intense lobbying from lawmakers, Jewish community groups, and human rights organisations. Critics of the IRGC have long argued that its designation as a terrorist organisation is long overdue, pointing to its role in exporting terrorism across the Middle East and its repression of dissent at home.
However, some analysts warn that the move could escalate tensions with Iran, which already operates in a highly confrontational environment with the West. Iran has previously threatened to retaliate against any country that designates the IRGC as a terrorist group. The UK government has said it is prepared to deal with any consequences and has increased security at Iranian diplomatic missions and other potential targets.
The proscription of the IRGC would bring the UK in line with the United States, Canada, and several other Western nations that have already taken similar steps. It would also send a strong signal that the UK is committed to protecting its Jewish community and upholding democratic norms against extremist ideologies.
In related developments, the UK has also imposed new sanctions on IRGC commanders and Iranian officials accused of human rights abuses. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans, targeting those responsible for the violent suppression of protests and the persecution of religious minorities.
The Home Office declined to comment on the specifics of the proscription order before it is tabled, but a spokesperson said: 'The government is committed to tackling all forms of extremism and protecting the public from the threat of terrorism. We will take decisive action against those who seek to harm our country and our communities.'
