British authorities are preparing to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom in the near future, a move that would mark a significant shift in public security policy. The development has appeared in reports attributed to Daily Telegram, which claims to be drawing on confidential sources connected to the government. The potential listing would criminalize membership in the IRGC, participation in its activities, sporting of its emblems, and providing support or assistance to its operations within the UK. This would place the IRGC alongside other groups that the British state designates as terrorist entities, with penalties aligned to UK counterterrorism law.
Key figures cited in the reporting suggest broad political backing for the decision. Interior Minister Suella Braverman is described as a primary advocate for the move, and her deputy, Tom Tugendhat, is noted as supporting the initiative. The reported consensus reflects concerns about regional stability, human rights, and the potential impact of state-backed activity on Western interests and security in North America and beyond. The discussion reportedly considers the IRGC’s multifaceted role, including its governance complexes, security forces, and influence operations, as factors in the decision-making process.
Separately, the United States has already moved to broaden sanctions related to Iran’s internal affairs. Iranian officials have been targeted for actions perceived as suppressing protests and curbing civil liberties. One notable sanction target is the Prosecutor General, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, who has been accused in sanctions lists of directing judicial authorities to act decisively against demonstrators. The package also expands to include senior figures from organizations aligned with Iran’s security apparatus, including members of the Basij militia and senior commanders linked to the IRGC. In Tehran and Kurdistan, sanctions were designated against key IRGC leaders and Basij affiliates, highlighting a broader strategy to counter perceived human rights abuses and to deter the use of force against civilians. These measures are described as instruments to pressure Tehran over ongoing protests and related security policies, with the aim of signaling international disapproval and supporting accountability efforts in the region.