The British government has announced a new security plan, set to launch in the summer of 2025, aimed at strengthening the resilience of the British political system against covert foreign influence. While the plan explicitly names only Iran, discussions also considered the possibility of including Russia and China. The plan will require Iranian entities—including members or associates of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence—to register with the Home Office. Failure to comply could result in a prison sentence of up to five years. The British government stated that the plan’s primary objective is to ensure transparency regarding connections between Iranian entities and senior officials in the British government.
The announcement provides the background for this decision:
In the security context, MI5 reported that Iran has attempted 20 assassinations and kidnappings in Britain since 2022. Iranian activities specifically target British Jews, Israelis, and Persian-language media outlets critical of the regime. A British court also revealed that an Iranian spy sought to gather information on special forces and harm Israelis and regime opponents. Additionally, it was noted that Iranian agencies promote radicalization within British Muslim communities, particularly among Shiites, and even work to build support for the Iranian regime.
In the cyber context, the announcement highlights Iran’s cyberattacks against British and global targets. In this framework, Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre, in collaboration with the FBI, issued a warning stating that Iranian hackers—operating on behalf of the IRGC—are attempting to hack the accounts of former British government officials, think tank members, journalists, and social activists.
This British initiative undoubtedly represents an escalation in restricting Iran's activities in England, particularly because it directly and specifically designates Iran and its malign activities. These developments are further amplified by the forceful return of the Trump administration’s sanctions policy at a time when the Iranian economy is experiencing one of its lowest points.
The British government has announced a new security plan, set to launch in the summer of 2025, aimed at strengthening the resilience of the British political system against covert foreign influence. While the plan explicitly names only Iran, discussions also considered the possibility of including Russia and China. The plan will require Iranian entities—including members or associates of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence—to register with the Home Office. Failure to comply could result in a prison sentence of up to five years. The British government stated that the plan’s primary objective is to ensure transparency regarding connections between Iranian entities and senior officials in the British government.
The announcement provides the background for this decision:
In the security context, MI5 reported that Iran has attempted 20 assassinations and kidnappings in Britain since 2022. Iranian activities specifically target British Jews, Israelis, and Persian-language media outlets critical of the regime. A British court also revealed that an Iranian spy sought to gather information on special forces and harm Israelis and regime opponents. Additionally, it was noted that Iranian agencies promote radicalization within British Muslim communities, particularly among Shiites, and even work to build support for the Iranian regime.
In the cyber context, the announcement highlights Iran’s cyberattacks against British and global targets. In this framework, Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre, in collaboration with the FBI, issued a warning stating that Iranian hackers—operating on behalf of the IRGC—are attempting to hack the accounts of former British government officials, think tank members, journalists, and social activists.
This British initiative undoubtedly represents an escalation in restricting Iran's activities in England, particularly because it directly and specifically designates Iran and its malign activities. These developments are further amplified by the forceful return of the Trump administration’s sanctions policy at a time when the Iranian economy is experiencing one of its lowest points.