Britain Holds Back on Banning Iran’s IRGC Despite EU Terror Label
Britain is resisting pressure to rush through a ban on Iran’s feared Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), even after the European Union officially declared the group a terrorist organisation. Intelligence and diplomatic insiders warn that outlawing the IRGC could wreck vital links with Tehran.
MI6 and Foreign Office Fear Diplomatic Fallout
MI6 and the Foreign Office are wary of proscribing the IRGC, fearing the move could lead to the expulsion of British diplomats and a total shutdown of crucial communication channels with Iran. While the Home Office is preparing a bill targeting hostile state actors like the IRGC, officials insist it won’t be rushed through Parliament and is expected later this year.
Across the pond, the US pushes to keep the British embassy in Tehran open as a back channel for engaging with Iran’s regime. Meanwhile, Britain focuses on sanctions, having already frozen assets of over 500 Iranian individuals connected to the regime.
New Powers to Hunt Down IRGC Operatives
- Police could seize passports of suspected IRGC agents.
- Stop-and-search powers without suspicion in high-risk zones, including near the Israeli embassy.
- Up to 14 years’ jail for profiting from or aiding the IRGC.
- Criminal penalties for publicly backing the IRGC or sporting their insignia.
Jonathan Hall KC, the independent terrorism law reviewer behind the bill, insists current laws aren’t tough enough to tackle threats from foreign state intelligence services.
Opposition and Ex-Ministers Demand Faster Moves
Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel condemned the government’s “silence on the IRGC” as “appalling” given Iran’s horrific legacy of killing, torture, and terrorism sponsorship.
“The brutality of the Tehran regime is an affront to humanity. Thousands slaughtered, many more injured and tortured, and show trials continuing, all while Iran sponsors terrorism and threatens regional security.” – Priti Patel
Former Labour Home Secretary Lord Blunkett told The Times: “It’s long overdue. We must make clear that this organisation is unacceptable and should be proscribed.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister slammed the EU’s designation as a mere “stunt” and warned it would be a “major strategic mistake.”
Whitehall Caught in Diplomatic Tug-of-War
The clash exposes a bitter divide between preserving diplomatic ties and taking a hard line on a group that crushes Iranian dissent and spreads chaos across the region. The government is facing rising pressure from Labour and other parliamentarians to speed up the ban, but intelligence and diplomatic chiefs urge caution.
With Whitehall wrangling ongoing, the exact timeline for the legislation remains unclear.
