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2mo ago

UK Designates Iran as National Security Threat Under New Foreign Influence Scheme

The UK government introduces measures requiring registration of Iranian-linked activities, citing increased threats and plots targeting British citizens.

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Dan Jarvis, the security minister, refused to say whether China or Russia would join Iran on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme, which comes into effect this summer

Overview

  • The UK has formally designated Iran as a national security threat, placing it in the highest tier of the new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).
  • The scheme will require individuals and entities acting on behalf of Iran to register their activities or face up to five years in prison.
  • MI5 reported a 48% increase in state threat investigations last year, including 20 Iran-backed plots posing lethal risks to British citizens since 2022.
  • The designation follows evidence of Iranian efforts to intimidate dissidents, target journalists, and use criminal proxies for violence and kidnappings in the UK.
  • Frontline police officers across all 45 UK forces will receive counterterrorism training to identify and address state-backed threats effectively.