The UK government has formally designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, making membership, support, or the display of its symbols a criminal offence in Britain.
The move, announced on Monday, uses powers under the National Security Act. Draft regulations are now being laid before Parliament, which will also proscribe other groups including Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency and the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR).
The UK has long sanctioned the IRGC in its entirety for its role in terrorism, regional destabilisation, human rights abuses, and support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. However, successive governments had resisted full proscription under terrorism laws, citing legal and diplomatic complexities.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions with Iran, including the IRGC’s involvement in attacks on Israel, threats to UK interests, and its designation by allies such as the United States (which listed the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2019).
Political Context
There has been sustained pressure from UK MPs, including former ministers and opposition figures, for the proscription. In recent years, multiple Early Day Motions and debates in Parliament called for the step, arguing the IRGC meets all criteria under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The government had previously said it was keeping the option under review while maintaining heavy sanctions.
This is the first time a state military organisation of this scale has been proscribed in this way by the UK.
