The government is facing fresh criticism for its failure to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) despite pledging to do so in opposition, after the EU designated it a terror organisation.
Announcing the move last week, the EU Foreign Affairs Council said it had “formally decided” to add the IRGC to the EU terrorist list. The IRGC will therefore be subject to restrictive measures under the EU counter-terrorism sanctions regime. This includes the freezing of its funds and other financial assets or economic resources in EU member states, and the prohibition for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to the group.
The decision was welcomed by the Board of Deputies, whose senior vice president Adrian Cohen said it was “long overdue that the UK government fulfil its commitment and do likewise”.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, a Downing Street spokesman refused to comment on calls to proscribe the organisation, saying it was a “a long-standing position that we don't provide a kind of running commentary on the process around that [proscription]”.
In response to other questions, he made clear the government’s opposition to the Iranian regime, saying: “We have long criticised Iran's authoritarian regime. We've taken robust action to protect UK interests from Iranian threats, and in recent months, we've condemned the regime's violent repression as 1000s of peaceful protesters were killed” and that “Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and our priority is security in the region”.
However, in opposition, Labour had pledged to proscribe the IRGC. Its failure to do so has drawn criticism from the shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, who told the JC: “Whilst our allies are standing firm against this murderous regime, the prime minister is too busy trying to stay in Downing Street.
“We know that the regime in Tehran is fuelling and funding terrorism globally, whilst propping up Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. These proxies have carried out attacks on international shipping and viciously attacked Israel – something which Iran has also done directly.”
Pointing to Labour’s promise while in opposition to proscribe the IRGC, Patel said: “If Keir Starmer doesn’t want to now, he should tell us why.
She added: “Britain must stand with the Iranian people and confront this murderous regime with strength, not excuses.”
The previous Conservative government – in which Patel served as international development secretary from 2016 to 2017 and home secretary from 2019 to 2022 – also failed to proscribe the IRGC during its 14 year run from 2010.
Starmer’s government was also criticised by the Liberal Democrats. The party's foreign affairs spokesman told the JC: “For years, the IRGC has acted with impunity, not only as the primary engine of domestic repression against the Iranian people but as a direct threat to our own national security, and to Iranian and Jewish communities across Britain.
“Sanctions alone are a 'sticking-plaster' solution. The Labour government has already commissioned a report on how to prescribe the IRGC, which concluded in May 2025. Nine months on, the home secretary must stop dragging her feet, and fast-track legislation to proscribe the IRGC in its entirety.”
Last May, Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, advised ministers to create the ability to “issue statutory alert and liability threat notices against foreign intelligence services, an equivalent to proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000”, which he said would be “available for use against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”.
He told an event hosted by think-tank Policy Exchange in January that it was up to the government to choose when to introduce his proposals into legislation, something they have not done.
The prime minister’s spokesman said there was no update on plans to codify Hall’s proposals to tackle state based threats like the IRGC.
The government’s stance on Iran has come under increased scrutiny following reports in the Times last week that the US would be unable to use bases in British territory – both RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands – to carry out strikes on Iran for fear of a possible breach of international law.
Its plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was thrown into doubt following a social media post by Donald Trump in which he appeared to revoke support for the agreement as a result of refusal to use British bases.
In the post on Truth Social last week, Trump said: “Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime – An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries.”
He continued: “Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”
Asked about the suggestion that the UK would block the US from using bases in the event of a possible strike on Iran, the prime minister’s spokesman said that the government never comments on operational manners “as a matter of long-standing principle”.
He added: “There's a political process ongoing between the US and Iran, which the UK supports. Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and our priority is security in the region. The US is the UK's principal defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the US remains an essential part of our security.”
Last November, the Australian government labelled the IRGC a state sponsor of terrorism, with foreign minister Penny Wong accusing Iran of being responsible for “unprecedented and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil”.
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