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British Prime Minister Under Fire for Delay in Banning Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government faces mounting criticism for its failure to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, even as concerns grow about Iranian influence operations within the United Kingdom.
The controversy intensified following allegations that the Islamic Center of England, a London-based religious institution, sold merchandise supporting terrorist organizations during a December bazaar. The Daily Telegraph reported in late January that UK authorities were investigating the center for allegedly selling Hezbollah phone cases and pro-Iranian regime key rings, including items displaying support for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“The Islamic Center of England is a regime outpost. The head of the center is directly appointed by Iran’s supreme leader,” Potkin Azarmehr, a British-Iranian expert on Iran, told Fox News Digital. “There is not a shred of doubt that the center is used to peddle the influence of Iran’s political Islam. It is also used to recruit disgruntled British individuals who are sent to Iran for training.”
According to reports, the merchandise sold at the December 14 bazaar included items glorifying Qassem Soleimani, the late IRGC commander killed in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. The Trump administration had identified Soleimani as responsible for the deaths of over 600 American military personnel.
The Islamic Center’s alleged activities have raised serious concerns about the growth of Iranian influence in Britain. The center operates as a registered charity, prompting questions about regulatory oversight.
Emma Schubart, a research fellow at Britain’s Henry Jackson Society, emphasized the center’s role in Iran’s broader influence operations: “The Islamic Center of England is not an isolated religious institution; it is part of a wider ecosystem of Iranian state-linked influence operating openly in the UK, and at the center of that ecosystem sits the IRGC.”
“The UK Government is dragging its feet over designating the IRGC,” Schubart added. “By delaying action, ministers are allowing hostile Iranian networks to continue operating under the cover of civil society and religious life. This is a dangerous blind spot in Britain’s national security.”
The UK Charity Commission confirmed it is investigating the Islamic Center of England but has faced criticism for the slow pace of its inquiry. “As part of our ongoing statutory inquiry into Islamic Center of England, we have raised concerns with the trustees about material sold by third parties at a recent event hosted at the charity’s premises,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Azarmehr criticized the regulatory response, noting that the Commission has been “investigating” the center for five years with little progress. “The only tangible result is that every time you make a complaint to the charity about the center, they reply by saying that because they are investigating the center, they cannot comment,” he said.
When contacted about the allegations, a spokesperson for the Islamic Center of England told Fox News Digital: “The trustees take all concerns about the center very seriously. We are currently reviewing matters pertaining to the Dec. 14 event and, in light of this, are unable to comment further at this time.”
The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive time in global relations with Iran. Last week, the European Union classified the IRGC as a terrorist entity, following similar designations by the United States, Canada, and Australia. The IRGC has been implicated in the recent violent crackdown on Iranian demonstrators, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, currently the shadow minister for home affairs, has called for the Islamic Center to be closed. “These latest revelations of terrorist tat being sold by the Islamic Center of England are yet more evidence of why the center must be closed and those responsible for propagating terrorist propaganda face the law,” she told the Telegraph.
The situation reflects broader tensions over Iranian influence in the UK. Last weekend, pro-Iran demonstrations in London prompted Reform Party leader Nigel Farage to warn on social media: “When people in Britain are chanting support for the thuggish regime in Iran, we are in serious trouble as a nation.”
As pressure mounts on the Starmer government to take decisive action against the IRGC and Iranian influence operations, multiple inquiries to the British Prime Minister’s office regarding these issues have gone unanswered, further fueling criticism of the administration’s approach to national security concerns related to Iran.
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7 Comments
This is a concerning report. The UK government should take a stronger stance against the IRGC and its extremist affiliates. Allowing such groups to operate freely within the country poses serious security risks.
The allegations of the Islamic Center of England selling terrorist-linked merchandise are very troubling. The UK authorities need to thoroughly investigate this and take appropriate action to prevent the spread of extremist influence.
I agree. The UK cannot turn a blind eye to these kinds of activities, even if they occur at ostensibly religious institutions. Rooting out Iranian regime influence is crucial for national security.
The sales of Hezbollah and pro-regime merchandise at the Islamic Center of England are unacceptable. The UK needs to take a strong stance against the IRGC’s attempts to spread its influence through such means.
Absolutely. The UK can’t afford to be complacent when it comes to Iranian regime-linked extremism. Decisive action is required to shut down these kinds of operations.
It’s disappointing to see the UK government dragging its feet on designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization. This sends the wrong message and undermines efforts to counter Iranian malign activity.
While the UK government’s reluctance to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group is concerning, I’m glad to see the authorities investigating the allegations against the Islamic Center of England. Exposing and addressing these threats is crucial.