• UK bans Iran's IRGC as a national security threat under new legislation.
• The ban follows a series of antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in Britain.
• Support for the IRGC will now be punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
• The ban includes the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, linked to the attacks.
• Authorities expect to finalize the legislation imminently, enhancing security measures.

The UK government has designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat, employing new legislation that allows it to impose a ban on support for the organization. This decision comes following a spike in antisemitic attacks in Britain, particularly targeting Jewish community sites, as noted in statements from UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who emphasized the need to crack down on such threats, according to Middle East Eye, Middle East Eye, and Al Jazeera.

The IRGC's designation enables the UK to prosecute those who express support or assist the organization, imposing penalties that could reach 14 years of imprisonment. This includes aiding affiliated groups implicated in criminal activities, such as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (IMCR), which has been linked to multiple attacks on Jewish targets in London, as stated by UK officials, including Security Minister Angela Eagle, according to India Times, Los Angeles Times, and South China Morning Post.

The UK’s decision reflects a broader concern regarding Iranian influence in Europe, with security agencies noting that these proxy groups often employ criminal networks for sabotage. Following the series of attacks in London, including arson targeting Jewish community ambulances, officials argue that immediate action was necessary to protect national security, as articulated by both police and intelligence authorities, according to Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, and India Times.

The legislation, expected to pass through Parliament swiftly, also permits the criminalization of support for other groups engaged in foreign state-sponsored activities. In addition to the IRGC, the UK government has designated the GRU Volunteer Corps linked to Russia’s military intelligence as a national security threat, highlighting a multifaceted approach to confronting foreign interference, as emphasized by security officials, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.