A group of over 50 MPs and Lords in the UK, including former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, have called for the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist organization.
The IRGC is a significant part of Iran's military and has approximately 125,000 personnel.
Its wings, such as the Quds Force, have been involved in supporting militias in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.
The IRGC has also built relationships with groups like Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The open letter, signed by 134 people, was in response to the recent Iranian attack on Israel, which the signatories described as the latest act of terror by the IRGC.
The text discusses the issue of extremism and terrorism, specifically mentioning Hamas and Hezbollah.
The author argues that while the government has taken steps to combat these groups by proscribing them, it is not sufficient as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is the primary source of their funding, equipment, and ideological radicalization.
The author suggests that the government should take action against the IRGC by designating it as a terrorist organization.
The text also mentions an attack by Iran on Israel's consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the death of 11 people, including senior commanders.
The author notes that former US President
Donald Trump had designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in 2019, but the UK has been hesitant to follow suit due to diplomatic concerns.
However, the UK has imposed sanctions on the IRGC as part of its sanctions on Iran's nuclear program, freezing the assets of its members and implementing travel bans.
A group of 134 UK parliamentarians have called for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist organization in the UK.
This designation would make it illegal to support the IRGC and could result in a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.
The parliamentarians accused the IRGC of posing a greater threat to the UK than ever before, citing an Iranian dissident being stabbed in London last month as evidence.
The letter was organized by the UK-Israel All Parliamentary Party Group, which includes former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.