Downing Street has warned that the Iranian regime poses a “significant threat” to the UK Suella Braverman believes Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) are the largest threat to national security.
The Home Secretary has warned that the Iranian regime pose “direct threats” to dissidents living in the UK.
The government has already taken strong action against the Iranian capital, Tehran and Downing Street are refusing to be drawn into whether or not the IRGC should be proscribed as a terrorist group.
The Foreign Office are reportedly afraid to have the Iranian regime proscribed as a terrorist group over fears this will create long lasting diplomatic damage.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said, “I can’t get into speculation around who we may or may not be considering proscribing in the future.”
However, he added the government had “a range of tools at our disposal” and they will make decisions based on using the most effective measures “to curb Iran’s destabilising activity.”
The Sunday Times quoted a source close to the Home Secretary as saying “the Iranian threat is the one that worries us the most,” warning, “they are getting much more aggressive and their appetite is increasing.”
When asked if this is the government’s view, the Prime Minister’s spokesman added, “Certainly we think that the behaviour of the Iranian regime, including the actions of the IRGC, pose a significant threat to the safety and security of the UK and of our allies.”
Nuclear proliferation and “direct threats against dissidents in the UK” are especially concerning, he said.
He continued, “We’ve identified 15 credible threats by the Iranian regime to kill or kidnap British or UK-based individuals since 2022.
“So, we have rightly taken strong action, including sanctions, and we’ve announced new powers to give the UK a greater ability to target Iran’s key decision makers.
“We have sanctions on 350 Iranian individuals and entities.”
