UK to list Iran’s IRGC as ‘terror’ threat

What Happened

The UK government submitted draft regulations to Parliament on Monday to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a threat to national security under new ‘state threats’ powers. If approved, it will become a criminal offence—punishable by up to life imprisonment—to support the IRGC, assist its UK activities, or accept material benefits from it. The designation follows a series of anti-Semitic attacks in the UK, including the arson of four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community charity in March. Alongside the IRGC, the UK also designated the Iran-backed Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), which claimed seven attacks on Jewish sites earlier this year, and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps. Caretaker PM Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood framed the move as part of a broader crackdown on foreign state-backed sabotage and interference.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The designation marks a significant diplomatic escalation between the UK and Iran, further straining bilateral relations and aligning London with Western efforts to counter Iranian proxy networks. It also provides prosecutors with new tools that bypass the need to prove a foreign state connection, potentially accelerating convictions for Iran-linked operations on UK soil. The move may provoke retaliatory measures from Tehran and embolden similar designations by other European states.

Watch For

Parliamentary approval expected by Friday, 2 May 2025; possible Iranian diplomatic response, including summoning the UK ambassador or reciprocal designations; any new arrests or prosecutions under the new powers; and reactions from the EU or other Western allies considering parallel measures.