Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday night condemning the UK's decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat and criminalize support for the organization, calling the move 'ridiculous and inciting' and a violation of international law, according to official Iranian sources. The ministry stressed that the IRGC is an integral part of Iran's official security forces.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry's late-night condemnation follows the UK Home Secretary's announcement earlier Tuesday that the IRGC would be designated a national security threat, making any expression of support for the organization a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The Ministry's statement, the second Iranian reaction to the UK move, escalates the rhetoric from a preliminary condemnation earlier in the day. Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani described the British decision as a 'ridiculous and inciting step' that violates international law, and reiterated that the IRGC is a legitimate state institution. The IRGC, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and several other countries, remains a key pillar of Iran's military and security apparatus. The UK's move is part of a broader Western campaign to restrict the IRGC's activities in Europe and beyond, following accusations of plotting attacks on foreign soil and supporting proxy forces across the Middle East.
3 developments
- StrongUK designates Iran's IRGC as national security threat, criminalizes support
- DevelopingUK criminalizes support for Iran's IRGC, imposes up to 14 years in prison
- StrongIran's Foreign Ministry: UK complicit in 'illegal attacks', warns of war crimes responsibility
- DevelopingIRGC says it will 'force the enemies to submit to the will of the Iranian people'
Source and signal
- Open-source intake