British Prime Minister KeirStarmer has been under pressure to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorists after European diplomats put them on a par with ISIS and Al Qaeda.
His EU allies had left Starmer standing alone on the world stage over the issue after EU Foreign Ministers proscribed the military group after thousands of anti regime protesters were slaughtered by it troops in Iran.
Following pressure to respond to the bloody crackdown on anti-regime protesters, the UK government is now reportedly set to ban Iran’s IRGC….but they haven’t specified when.
The Telegraph reports: Ministers will introduce legislation proscribing hostile state agencies including the IRGC, which has been accused of helping to massacre thousands of demonstrators in Iran.
However, no timeline has been set and the law will only be introduced “when parliamentary time allows”, government sources told The Times.
Sir Keir Starmer is likely to face calls to fast-track the legislation as Tehran faces renewed pressure over its crackdown on demonstrators.
Donald Trump is considering launching military strikes on the Islamic Republic, having sent the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the EU has added the IRGC to its list of terrorist groups, alongside al-Qaeda, Hamas and Islamic State.
Labour has faced cross-party calls to proscribe the IRGC, which is also accused of operating a campaign of harassment against dissidents in Britain.
On Thursday night, Lord Blunkett became the most senior Labour grandee to call for a ban. The former home secretary told The Telegraph: “I am totally in favour of proscribing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and, for that matter, the Muslim Brotherhood.
“I hope very much that in the spirit of the way in which the new Home Secretary has tackled other issues, she will be prepared to act on both of these.”
Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, also supported an immediate ban. She said: “The brutality of the Tehran regime is an affront to humanity. Thousands slaughtered, many more injured and tortured, and show trials continuing, all while Iran sponsors terrorism and threatens regional security.
“The Labour Government’s silence on the IRGC is appalling. We have said that we would work with them to bring forward the legal and legislative mechanisms for the UK to take action.”
On Thursday night Lord Blunkett, a former Labour home secretary, became the most senior party grandee to call for a ban.
“I am totally in favour of proscribing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and, for that matter, the Muslim Brotherhood,” he told The Telegraph.
“I hope very much that in the spirit of the way in which the new Home Secretary has tackled other issues, she will be prepared to act on both of these.”
Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, also supported an immediate ban: “The brutality of the Tehran regime is an affront to humanity.
“Thousands slaughtered, many more injured and tortured, and show trials continuing, all while Iran sponsors terrorism and threatens regional security.
“The Labour Government’s silence on the IRGC is appalling. We have said that we would work with them to bring forward the legal and legislative mechanisms for the UK to take action.
“Britain must stand up for the Iranian people and confront this vile regime with strength and resolve.”
The IRGC acts as a “praetorian guard” military force in Iran, swearing loyalty to the Ayatollah personally and acting separately to the army. The group has grown in power in recent years and now control large parts of the economy.
Targeted powers
Sir Keir supported a ban while in opposition. However, in Government he was advised against it as it was judged ill-equipped to crack down on organisations that are arms of a state.
Instead, the Government has backed a hybrid model drawn up by Jonathan Hall, KC, the independent reviewer of terror legislation, who proposed more targeted powers under a new law banning foreign Government agencies like the IRGC,
The proposals would mean anyone helping or benefiting from a banned state intelligence agency such as the IRGC would face up to 14 years in jail.
There would also be a new criminal offence of inviting support for state agencies such as the IRGC or displaying their flags or insignia, replicating powers used against terrorist groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda.
Police could also get expanded powers to stop and search individuals without suspicion when dealing with “high threat” incidents or state threats to known targets in the UK such as the Israeli embassy.
His spokesman said: “We welcome today’s announcement by the EU which will further hold the Iranian authorities to account for the violence and brutality shown against peaceful protesters.”
Asked if the UK planned to implement a similar ban, he replied: “It’s longstanding practice under successive governments that we don’t speculate about individual sanctions targets or speculate around issues related to prescription.”
Failure to take action to proscribe the IRGC would leave the UK isolated among Western powers following the decision by European leaders to outlaw the group. As well as the EU, the US, Canada and Australia have included the IRGC on their official terror lists.
The Foreign Office and MI6 are believed to remain sceptical about proscribing the IRGC over fears that it would sever diplomatic channels that are relied upon by Britain and its allies and trigger the expulsion of British diplomats from Tehran.
Nato ally urges change
But moments before the EU’s decision was made, Estonia, one of Britain’s closest Nato allies, also urged the Prime Minister to reconsider