Overview
- Britain, which proscribed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday, has reportedly classified the IRGC as a terrorist organisation based on a Sky News report corroborated by other outlets.
- The move would make the IRGC the first state agency the UK has ever labelled a terrorist group and reverses an earlier government position that avoided proscription to preserve diplomatic ties with Iran.
- If enacted in law, the designation could criminalise membership or support, enable asset freezes and sanctions, and change how UK police and courts handle suspected IRGC-linked activity.
- The United States proscribed the IRGC in 2019, creating a precedent that frames this decision and that previously led to reciprocal designations by Tehran.
- Coverage so far is media-led and relies on the Sky News report, so a formal UK government publication or legal instrument is still needed to confirm enforcement details and next steps.