UK moves to ban IRGC over antisemitic attacks on British soil

The UK has moved to proscribe the IRGC and an Iran-backed group over alleged antisemitic attacks and threats in Britain. The step sharpens powers against proxy activity and could bring life terms for offenders.

In Short

• Parliamentary approval would criminalise membership, support or material benefit from designated bodies
• Ministers linked recent intimidation and threats to Iranian state-directed proxy activity
• IMCR allegedly claimed seven attacks on Jewish and Israeli-linked UK sites

The UK on Monday announced plans to proscribe Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and another group linked to Tehran over alleged antisemitic attacks and threats to life on British soil. If cleared by Parliament this week, it will become a criminal offence to be associated with the banned groups, and those found guilty of carrying out criminal acts on their behalf could face life imprisonment.

Home Office Minister of State for Security Angela Eagle told the House of Commons that the move targets the IRGC and the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, or IMCR, which Britain said was backed by the IRGC and had been behind a series of attacks and attempted attacks targeting Jewish communities in the UK and Europe. The sanctions package also proscribes the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Volunteer Corps under the new National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.

In a written parliamentary statement, Eagle said the role of the IRGC went far beyond that of a normal military force and included "intelligence activity, the use of proxy actors and the projection of influence designed to advance Iranian state objectives". She said, "The IRGC is a central component of the Iranian state's security apparatus, answerable directly to Iran's Supreme Leader." She added that the UK had identified activity linked to the IRGC involving threats to life and intimidation in Britain.

Eagle said that in January 2024, the UK announced sanctions targeting Iranian officials responsible for threats to kill on UK soil and criminal gangs acting for the regime overseas. "The Iranian officials designated under these sanctions were members of IRGC Unit 840, which was exposed in relation to plots to assassinate two Iran International TV journalists in the UK," she said. She said the law allows the Home Secretary to designate bodies involved in foreign power threat activity when needed to protect the UK's safety or interests. "Designation introduces new criminal offences relating to supporting, assisting, or obtaining material benefit from a designated body. Where an individual engages in espionage, sabotage or foreign interference for, on behalf of or with the intention to benefit the designated body, they may also be charged under the National Security Act 2023. The maximum penalty for these offences reaches life imprisonment," she stated.

The UK government said the IRGC Qods Force and the IRGC Intelligence Organisation, together with the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, form the Iranian "intelligence apparatus". It accused the Qods Force of maintaining and operating covert intelligence networks around the world and of playing a central role in extending Iranian influence across the Middle East and beyond. Referring to the IMCR, Eagle said its acts of arson and intimidation had caused real fear and distress in Britain. Also known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah, the group is said to have publicly claimed seven attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities and Persian-language media, including an antisemitic arson attack on four Jewish community Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green, north London, on March 23. She added, "Sitting behind IMCR were members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, who almost certainly directed IMCR attacks across Europe."

Eagle said that while the IRGC had already been sanctioned in full by the UK, designating both the IMCR and the IRGC under the new framework would strengthen Britain's ability to disrupt and act against those supporting such activity and would reinforce its position that such actions were unacceptable. Once Parliament completes the process this week, the new sanctions will take effect. In January, the European Union added the IRGC to its terror list.

With PTI Inputs

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