UK Designates Iran's Revolutionary Guards as Terrorist Organization Over Attacks on Jewish Sites

The UK government has officially designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision follows a series of attacks linked to the IRGC targeting sites associated with the Jewish community. Under the new designation, it is now illegal to express support or sympathy for the IRGC within the United Kingdom. Additionally, providing assistance to the IRGC or receiving benefits from the group on UK soil is prohibited. Violations of this law can result in imprisonment for up to 14 years.

The UK had announced intentions to take this step earlier in 2023, after reports emerged of a British citizen's arrest in Iran during the hijab protests. At that time, The Telegraph reported that then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government planned to finalize the designation within weeks, but the move was delayed until now.