Iran brands the Royal Navy and RAF 'terrorist organisations' and MI6 a 'hostile group' over Britain's war role
Royal Navy and RAF vessels on escort duty in May, as Tehran cited Britain's provision of military bases and logistical support for the US-Israeli campaign as grounds for the designations.Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which Tehran designated a terrorist organisation under Britain's State Threats Act in July, now faces prosecution powers against anyone accused of working with MI6 under Iranian espionage law.
Tehran's Foreign Ministry announced the designations would take effect from November 1, pointing to Britain's "illegal and hostile actions" — among them permitting US bombers to launch strikes on Iran from RAF Fairford, raids that killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28. Anyone accused of working with MI6 now faces prosecution under Iranian espionage law, and the move sharply raises the risk of the two countries coming into direct armed conflict.
Tehran explicitly tied the move to Britain's July 13 decision to list Iran's Revolutionary Guard under the State Threats Act.
The sanctions follow the arrest of several British men outside RAF Fairford on September 27; two later appeared in a London court charged under the National Security Act, with one accused of assisting Iranian intelligence.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei separately warned any future attack would be met with an 'immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response.'
