UK to Proscribe Iran’s IRGC and Other Proxies Under New State Threats Powers
The UK government has introduced draft regulations to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an Iran-linked group, and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps as state proxies, making support for them a criminal offence punishable by up to life imprisonment.
New Powers Target Foreign State Proxies
The British government is moving to use recently introduced legislation to criminalize support for foreign state proxies, beginning with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). On Monday, the government submitted draft regulations to Parliament that would ban backing for the IRGC, following a series of anti-Semitic attacks in the UK.
Alongside the IRGC, the government also listed the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR)—an Iran-backed group that claimed responsibility for seven attacks on Jewish sites in the UK this year—and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps as the first entities designated under the new state threats powers.
Criminal Offences and Penalties
Once the designation takes effect, it will be a criminal offence to invite or express support for these organizations, assist them in UK-related activities, engage in conduct that materially assists them, or accept or retain benefits provided by or on their behalf. The government stated that if Parliament approves the regulations later this week, individuals conducting sabotage, including arson, on behalf of these groups could face life imprisonment.
Background: Anti-Semitic Attacks
British police have investigated attacks on Jewish-linked sites in London, including the torching of four ambulances belonging to a community charity in March. Three men were charged with arson in April. The government described the IRGC as having a “long history” of using proxies and criminal networks to target people overseas, particularly the Jewish community and Iranian dissidents.
Diplomatic Fallout
Al Jazeera’s Charlie Angela reported from London that the designation could take effect as early as Friday, marking a further deterioration in UK-Iran relations. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has already summoned the Iranian ambassador for questioning. Tehran, which is currently at war with the United States and Israel, has previously denied using proxies. Regarding the GRU, the government said Russia uses the group for foreign intelligence collection and hostile covert operations targeting the UK and its allies.
Caretaker Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the new powers would make it easier to prosecute those carrying out “dirty work” in Britain. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood added that Iran and Russia are using proxies and thugs, and that designated groups will be tracked down.
