UK parliamentary report warns of persistent Iranian threat on British soil

A forthcoming report from the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee reveals that Iran continues to pose a significant threat to the United Kingdom, with ongoing attempts to assassinate dissidents on British soil and extensive cyber attacks targeting UK companies.

Based on classified intelligence and two years of investigation, the study is expected to place Iran alongside China and Russia as one of the biggest state-based threats to the UK. The findings will also expose the persistent meddling by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), despite recent setbacks caused by Israeli assassinations, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

The report, more than 100 pages in length, was compiled through interviews with Iranian experts at British intelligence services and with access to sensitive classified documents. Those familiar with its contents suggest it will serve as a wake-up call to ministers about Iran’s continuing capabilities and ambitions within the UK.

Sir Keir Starmer has personally signed off on the report. Unlike other parliamentary committees, this Intelligence and Security Committee operates under a unique process where the Prime Minister receives prior sight of the conclusions, highlighting the sensitivity of the matter.

The report arrives amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, following military confrontations between Iran and Israel, as well as US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran has issued veiled threats that UK military bases in the region could become targets if Britain supports Israeli airstrikes. The UK Prime Minister stopped short of fully endorsing the US strikes, refraining from commenting on their legality or prudence.

In January 2024, the UK Government imposed sanctions on Iranian officials believed to be involved in threats to kill journalists, marking a hardening stance.

Ken McCallum, director-general of MI5, underscored the severity of the threat in a rare public address last year. He said that over the past two years, Iran had orchestrated “plot after plot” in the UK, describing the scale and speed as “unprecedented.”

“Since January 2022, with police partners, we have responded to 20 Iran-backed plots presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents,” McCallum stated.

He further warned: “As events unfold in the Middle East, we will give our fullest attention to the risk of an increase in – or a broadening of – Iranian state aggression in the UK.

“Like the Russian services, Iranian state actors make extensive use of criminals as proxies – from international drug traffickers to low-level crooks.”

The Intelligence and Security Committee’s report is expected to highlight that Iran remains actively involved in plots against individuals residing in the UK, with dissidents singled out as particular targets. The report will also point to risks of reprisal attacks across the European continent.

Detailing the IRGC’s extensive reach within Britain, the report touches on the organisation’s evolution from the ideological custodian of Iran’s 1979 revolution to a powerful military, political, and economic force.

A contentious debate continues within the UK Government over whether the IRGC should be formally designated a terrorist organisation, which critics argue could limit diplomatic engagement with key Iranian figures.

The Intelligence and Security Committee is distinct from other parliamentary committees, as all nine members hold security clearances allowing access to confidential intelligence. Hearings are conducted in private, with reports and recommendations prepared over a prolonged period in collaboration with intelligence agencies.

By Vugar Khalilov