Iran Designates UK Royal Navy and Air Force as Terrorist Organizations, MI6 as Hostile Group
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced in Tehran on November 1 that it has designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organizations and classified the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, as a hostile group, with the designations taking effect upon publication of the statement.
The statement set out the legal bases for each measure: MI6 was designated a hostile group under Note 2 of Article 1 of Iran's law intensifying penalties for espionage and collaboration with hostile states, while the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force were designated under Iran's law on countermeasures against the United States' declaration of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. According to Xinhua, the decision was based on a resolution of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The ministry said the move responded to Britain's hostile actions against Iran over the past year, including London's participation in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and its provision of access to military bases and logistical facilities in territories under its jurisdiction, as well as the British government's July 13 decision to designate the IRGC as a threat under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.
The statement condemned Britain's policies as contrary to the UN Charter and the principles of international law, particularly respect for national sovereignty and the prohibition of unlawful measures against other countries, said the designations were made in accordance with international law and the principle of reciprocity, and reaffirmed Iran's determination to safeguard its national security and interests. The British government had not publicly responded to the November 1 designations as of publication.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于德黑兰的伊朗外交部大楼。siposoft摄于Flickr，CC BY 2.0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran in Tehran. By siposoft on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
