UK proscribes Iran's Revolutionary Guard as terrorist organisation

The British government ‌has proscribed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as ​a terrorist organisation, a move ​that would make it ​a criminal offence to belong to the group, ​attend its meetings ​or carry its logo in ‌public, SkyNews reports.

The report said the move follows a series of attacks targeting the Jewish community in the United Kingdom and comes after ministers accelerated the passage of the National Security (State Threats) Bill, fulfilling a pledge made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Existing counterterrorism legislation did not allow for the banning of organisations acting on behalf of foreign states.

Under the new measures, it is now a criminal offence to:

Invite support for, or express an opinion or belief that is supportive of, the IRGC;

Assist the IRGC in carrying out UK-related activities or engage in conduct likely to materially assist it;

Accept or retain a material benefit provided by or on behalf of the IRGC.

The government stated that the legislation is intended to "disrupt individuals who promote the interests and objectives of designated bodies".

Violating the new rules could result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years, a fine, or both.

The ⁠IRGC, which is already subject to British sanctions, has served ​as an ​elite ⁠military force loyal to the ​Islamic Republic's Supreme ​Leader ⁠since being established after the 1979 Islamic ⁠Revolution.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov