New counter-terror legislation due to be included in the King’s Speech will reportedly treat “malign state actors”, such as Iran’s IRGC, as equivalent to hostile espionage agencies.
According to The Times, the law will “give the home secretary the power to designate proxy groups...as a foreign intelligence service”.
It will also introduce “proscription-like powers” to give the home secretary the authority to ban such groups, similar to the measures applied to terrorist organisations.
These would make it an offence to be a member of a specified group, as well as providing it with financial assistance or inviting others to support it.
Labour pledged during its time in opposition to ban the IRGC, but has yet to do so in government.
Ministers have argued that it is not possible to proscribe the paramilitary under existing counter-terrorism legislation due to its status as a formal part of the apparatus of the Iranian state.
However, in the wake of a recent wave of attacks against the Jewish community, the prime minister exclusively revealed to the JC that ministers would advance plans to ban the IRGC in the next parliamentary session, which begins on May 13.
The new law will also reportedly give police powers to investigate suspects under section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, which makes it illegal to assist a foreign intelligence service.
If passed, this would mean that those who carry out operations on behalf of the IRGC could face up to 14 years behind bars, even if they do so unknowingly.
It comes after an Iran-linked group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamisa (Hayi), claimed responsibility for several of the recent attacks targeting British Jews, including the arson of four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green last month, though its involvement has not been independently verified.
But the prime minister appeared to publicly attribute blame for the attacks to Iran on Tuesday, saying the government would not tolerate Tehran’s attempts to “foment violence, hatred or division”.
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