The UK government has ruled out proscribing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror organization, despite calls from Labour MPs and a previous stance from the Labour party in opposition. Business Secretary Peter Kyle stated that the government has already utilized sanctions against Iran to their maximum extent and that domestic terror legislation is not appropriate for proscribing state bodies. This decision comes as the IRGC is accused of brutally suppressing protesters in Iran, with reports of them gunning down civilians.
Labour's previous position, articulated by Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in 2023, supported proscribing the IRGC and proposed new legislation to ban hostile state-sponsored organizations. This stance was shared by 125 cross-party MPs who backed the move, which was resisted by the then-Conservative government. Labour MPs have expressed disappointment, citing the IRGC's alleged role in state-sponsored terrorism, assassination plots, and the violent crackdown on demonstrations in Iran, as well as its destabilizing influence in the Middle East.
The US has already proscribed the IRGC, and activists are urging the UK government to follow suit. While acknowledging the severe repression in Iran and the threat the IRGC poses, the UK government insists on using appropriate legislative measures. The government is exploring international pressure and sanctions as avenues for action, while emphasizing its commitment to supporting the Iranian people's right to be heard and to choose their own government.