State Threats Response
House of Commons · Written Statements · 13 Jul 2026 · 1 speech · Official Report
For years Iran’s intelligence services have planned and conducted dangerous, potentially lethal, operations in the United Kingdom and across the world, targeting innocent citizens and undermining our sovereignty. Despite our clear warnings to Iran that this activity is reprehensible, the Iranian threat to the UK persists. Between March and May, across Europe and in the UK, there were a series of attacks against Jewish communities, journalists and Israeli interests. The criminal group Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, otherwise known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah, have publicly claimed seven attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities, and Persian-language media, including the antisemitic arson attack on four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on 23 March. Sitting behind IMCR were members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force who almost certainly directed IMCR attacks across Europe. The repeated targeting of innocent individuals and communities in the UK and across Europe is deplorable and shows the desperate lengths to which Iran is willing to go to intimidate and silence those it sees as opponents. We have consistently raised unacceptable attacks directly with the Iranian authorities, who have denied our claims and given no credible justification or alternative explanation. Given the range of growing and evolving threats from states and state-backed groups, we have strengthened the powers available to our...