On July 14 (Tehran time), according to Xinhua, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the British government's decision to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat organization, saying that this move violates international law.
In an official statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the IRGC is an inseparable part of the country's armed forces, along with the regular army, responsible for protecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security.
Iran describes Britain's decision as going against the United Nations Charter, especially in the context of the tense security situation in West Asia. Iran believes that the cause of the current instability stems from the actions of the US and Israel.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry affirmed that the country fully reserves its rights under international law to take appropriate retaliatory measures. At the same time, Iran warned the British Government that it would be responsible for the political, legal and diplomatic consequences caused by this decision.
A day earlier, the British government announced plans to include the IRGC and 2 other organizations in the list of national security threats.
According to a written statement by British Security Secretary Angela Eagle, if approved by Parliament, these will be the first organizations to be appointed under the 2026 National Security Act.
According to the new regulations, all acts of supporting or participating in the activities of these organizations related to the UK, or intentionally receiving material benefits from them, can be criminally prosecuted. Some violations may face the highest penalty of life imprisonment.
The IRGC is currently on the UK's sanctions list. However, bringing this force into the framework of the National Security Act will significantly expand the scope of criminal proceedings against related individuals and organizations.
London's new move comes as relations between Britain and Iran continue to strain after a series of security developments in the Middle East, raising concerns about the risk of diplomatic confrontation between the two countries.
