The UK government has proscribed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the home secretary announced on 2026-07-13. The designation, reported by BBC News, makes it a criminal offence to provide support for the group in the UK and brings additional enforcement measures into play immediately.
The proscription was confirmed by ministers as a response to assessed risks to public safety and community security. The government says the move is intended to disrupt networks of support and to give law enforcement clearer powers to act where the law is broken.
What the government has proscribed: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The formal decision names the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as an organisation banned under UK terrorism legislation. The designation took effect on 2026-07-13 and carries legal consequences for membership, support and participation in activities linked to the group.
Under the proscription, conduct that amounts to membership, supporting, or arranging meetings for a proscribed organisation can be treated as criminal. The government has said these measures are designed to prevent the organisation from operating openly in the UK and to protect people from potential harm.
How the new powers work
Shabana Mahmood will use new powers tied to the proscription to prohibit support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and to direct enforcement action. The powers allow the home secretary to proscribe subordinate or affiliated bodies as necessary and to issue orders targeting fundraising, communications and recruitment channels.
Practically, the proscription expands the legal tools available to police and prosecutors. Authorities can apply for warrants, pursue asset-freezing and implement investigative measures more readily when an organisation is proscribed. Operational responses will be led by law enforcement, working with the Crown Prosecution Service where criminal charges are considered.
Ministers have also emphasised that lawful protest, legitimate political debate and freedom of expression remain protected under UK law. The government says enforcement will seek to distinguish clearly between protected activity and conduct that constitutes illegal support.
Allegations of threats on British soil
The decision follows reporting by the BBC that linked the group to death threats and intimidation directed at people in the UK. Those claims are presented as allegations by the source and have not been independently verified in this report.
Officials told the BBC that concerns about threats and intimidation aimed at individuals and communities in the UK informed the assessment leading to proscription. Where allegations of criminal behaviour exist, police may open investigations and any prosecutions would proceed according to the standards of evidence required in court.
Journalists and rights groups note that allegations should be handled carefully and that due process applies. Legal challenges to proscription decisions are possible, and affected parties may seek judicial review of the designation.
What this means for people and groups in the UK
The immediate legal implications are that providing support to a proscribed organisation—whether financial, logistical or promotional—may be unlawful. Individuals and organisations should assess their activities to ensure they do not inadvertently fall within the legal definition of support.
Community groups, charities, faith institutions and event organisers should be alert to the changed legal environment. The proscription can affect fundraising, speaker bookings, and the display of insignia or materials that could be interpreted as endorsing the organisation.
Employers, landlords and venues may be asked to cooperate with inquiries if there are concerns that their premises or services are being used to support proscribed activity. The government encourages organisations to take legal advice if they are unsure about compliance.
Anyone who believes they are the target of intimidation or threats should contact police. The proscription does not change the basic legal tests for investigating particular criminal acts, but it does provide additional routes for law enforcement action where support for a proscribed organisation is involved.
What comes next and source attribution
The government can maintain, review or extend proscription measures over time. Home office officials and law enforcement will publish guidance and operational priorities to help organisations and the public understand how the ban will be implemented.
Parliamentary scrutiny, legal challenges and public debate are likely to follow, focusing on the balance between security and civil liberties. Courts may be asked to consider the legality of the designation if parties mount challenges.
For the original reporting on this development, see BBC News: UK proscribes Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The reporting by BBC News is the primary source for the allegations and government statements referenced in this article.
