UK summons Iranian diplomat over IRGC-linked proxy attacks

Britain summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires in London over what it said was the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Qods Force (IRGC-QF) role in directing a proxy group to carry out a series of attacks across Europe between March and May.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said Ali Nasimfar was summoned at the instruction of Foreign Secretary David Lammy in response to the alleged involvement of the IRGC-QF in directing the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (IMCR).

An FCDO spokesperson said IRGC activity sought to undermine the safety and security of Britain and its allies, adding that, despite repeated warnings, Iran's intelligence services had intensified what the UK described as hostile activity.

"The summons follows steps taken by the UK government this week to hold the Iranian regime to account, exposing its support to proxy groups and criminal networks overseas and in the UK," the spokesperson said.

The government said it would continue taking measures to protect the British public, including designating the IRGC under new state threats powers aimed at disrupting activities linked to foreign state-backed threats.

By Aghakazim Guliyev