AiBotIn a move likely to further strain relations between the two nations, the United Kingdom has officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision was announced by the British government on 17 March 2022 but took effect 28 June 2022. According to reports, the British government made this decision in collaboration with its European allies, amid growing concerns over the IRGC’s alleged role in foreign terrorism.
The move to blacklist the IRGC marks a significant escalation in the UK’s counter-terrorism efforts. London’s decision follows similar designations by the United States, which has listed the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 2019. This development is expected to complicate diplomatic relations between Tehran and Western nations, including a long-term deterioration in relations with the United Kingdom.
The IRGC has been criticized worldwide for alleged involvement in human rights abuses and support for terrorist groups across the Middle East. Critics contend that since its inception in 1979, the IRGC has been instrumental in perpetuating violence in the region. The organization has also been accused of involvement in a number of international terrorist operations, including the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752, which killed 176 people in January 2020.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary has emphasized the significance of this designation, citing the IRGC’s ‘brutal suppression of protesters’ and its alleged role in providing support to terrorist groups. In response to the UK’s designation, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the move, arguing that the IRGC is a legitimate military force in Iran.
The implications of the UK’s decision on Iranian-UK relations remain uncertain, with many speculating that further diplomatic fallout can be expected. Tehran has long criticized the UK for its involvement in the Iran nuclear deal, and tensions remain high between the two nations.
As Western governments increasingly scrutinize the IRGC’s alleged foreign operations, calls for international action against the organization have grown louder. Critics believe that by designating the IRGC as a terrorist entity, the UK and its allies can pressure Tehran to scale back its alleged support for international terrorism.
In light of these developments, international observers will closely watch for further diplomatic escalations and military confrontations between Western powers and Iran.