Iran summons British ambassador over IRGC proscription as national security threat

Tehran - Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Hugo Shorter over the UK government’s move to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat. Alireza Yousefi, Director General for Western Europe at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, lodged a strong protest against what he described as a ‘hostile’ action. He also condemned recent ‘inappropriate’ anti-Iran statements made by UK Security Minister Angela Eagle in parliament. Yousefi stated that the ‘baseless’ accusations against the IRGC were ‘irresponsible and contrary to the international commitments of the British government and the fundamental principles governing relations between states’. In a written statement, Eagle had said the UK has ‘identified IRGC-linked activity involving threats to life and intimidation’ on British soil. Yousefi warned that any hostile legislation targeting Iran or its institutions would be met with a ‘firm and reciprocal’ response. The British government announced on Monday it is seeking to proscribe the IRGC, along with two other organisations, as a threat to national security. If approved by parliament, the proscription would make it a criminal offence to support or assist the organisations in UK-related activities, or to knowingly receive material benefit from them, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for certain violations. The UK has previously imposed comprehensive sanctions on the IRGC.