UK Plans Ban on Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Expands Measures Against Foreign-Linked Groups
The United Kingdom government has announced plans to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a prohibited organisation under new national security measures aimed at countering foreign threats.
The proposed action forms part of a broader legislative package that will also target other groups linked to hostile state activities, including networks associated with Russian intelligence and an Iran-affiliated organisation accused of carrying out attacks on Jewish properties in London.
Under the planned law, individuals found to be supporting or assisting any designated group could face significant prison sentences. The government said the measures are intended to strengthen its ability to address risks such as espionage, sabotage and foreign interference.
Officials indicated that the legislation would simplify legal processes by allowing prosecutions without the need to prove direct ties between suspects and foreign governments in cases involving banned organisations.
Security agencies have previously linked the IRGC to a number of incidents involving threats to Jewish and Israeli-related sites within the UK.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to preventing foreign actors from carrying out destabilising activities on British soil.
The IRGC, established after Iran’s 1979 revolution, has developed into a powerful military institution with influence beyond its borders and has been designated as a terrorist organisation by several countries.
