The United Kingdom government is preparing to impose a ban on three key organisations from Iran and Russia that have emerged as serious threats to Britain’s national security. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood made clear that Iran’s powerful military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Movement of the Companion of Rights (ICMR), and Russia’s military intelligence unit, the GRU, have become severe threats to the country’s security. The Home Office officially announced that these organisations would be banned under national security legislation, with final official orders expected to be issued shortly.
The primary reason behind this stringent decision is the illegal activities and cyberattacks carried out by these organisations on British soil and digital networks, which have posed a serious challenge to the democratic system. Intelligence investigations revealed that a plot had been hatched to target and assassinate two Iranian journalists residing in the UK. Evidence also surfaced showing ICMR’s involvement in several attacks targeting the Jewish community, causing serious concern for the British government.
The UK Home Office reiterated that safeguarding national security and national interests remains the top priority. Officials stated that this decision was reached only after thoroughly examining the collected evidence and comprehensive intelligence reports. The government made clear that such a crackdown on these military and intelligence organisations is aimed at preventing any future threat to British citizens and the country’s sovereignty from foreign powers.