On Tuesday, Iran criticized a British initiative aimed at outlawing support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and an associated group blamed for several assaults on the Jewish community. The Iranian foreign ministry characterized the British government’s move as a hostile, reckless, and legally unfounded decision.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that individuals providing assistance to these organizations could face prison sentences reaching 14 years. This legislative proposal is scheduled for parliamentary review this week. Beyond the Revolutionary Guard, the ban targets affiliates of Russia’s GRU intelligence unit and the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, a group linked to attacks on Jewish property within London.
This legislation empowers British authorities to label foreign state proxies as national security risks. According to the Home Office, the powers will enhance the nation’s capacity to address espionage, democratic interference, and physical violence. These measures follow a recent wave of antisemitic arson attacks in London and the sentencing of two Romanian nationals for a 2024 stabbing of journalist Pouria Zeraati, an act a court determined was ordered by Iran. Tehran has since summoned the British ambassador to formally dispute these claims.
