On November 1, 2026, Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organizations and declared MI6 a hostile group under a resolution by Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Tehran described the measures as reciprocal action after the UK brought the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under its State Threats Act in July 2026 and permitted British military bases to support US-Israeli actions. The escalation follows a September security breach at RAF Fairford airbase and ongoing regional conflict since US-Israeli joint strikes in February 2026.
Iran terrorist designation of British entities
- ▪Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that British anti-Iranian policies violated principles of the United Nations Charter regarding national sovereignty and unlawful measures against other states
- ▪Iran accused Britain of participating in the United States and Israeli war against Iran by granting access to military and logistical facilities under British jurisdiction
- ▪Iran's designation of British military entities took effect on November 1, 2026, under a resolution by Iran's Supreme National Security Council
- ▪Iran's Foreign Ministry characterized the terrorism designation of Britain's military branches as a reciprocal step responding to the UK bringing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the UK's State Threats Act
- ▪Iran's Foreign Ministry designated Britain's Royal Navy and RAF as terrorist organizations
Iran actions against MI6
- ▪Iran's Foreign Ministry classified Britain's MI6 as a hostile group
- ▪Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that Britain's MI6 would be subject to an Iranian law on espionage with Israel and other nations
Western measures against the IRGC
- ▪The United States designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization
- ▪Britain brought Iran's IRGC under the UK's State Threats Act 2026
Security incident at RAF Fairford
- ▪British prosecutors alleged that one of two men arrested outside RAF Fairford on September 27, 2026 attempted to assist Iranian intelligence operations
- ▪UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that activity at RAF Fairford was likely coordinated in Iran, which Tehran's ambassador to Britain denied
- ▪United States Air Force bombers were withdrawn from RAF Fairford on security grounds after several British men were arrested outside the base on September 27, 2026
- ▪Two men appeared in a London court charged under Britain's National Security Act over a September 27, 2026 security incident at RAF Fairford airbase
US and Israeli strikes on Iran
- ▪The United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other key Iranian leaders
- ▪Following joint United States and Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, Tehran targeted American and Israeli interests in the region while increasing control over the Strait of Hormuz
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