Iran labels British military branches as terrorist groups
Tehran's foreign ministry declared the RAF, Royal Navy, and MI6 hostile entities in direct retaliation for London's July designation of the IRGC.
By Aiko Sato ·
Iran has officially designated the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as terrorist organisations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued the classification on November 1, 2026, marking a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between Tehran and London.
The ministry also categorised MI6, the British secret service, as a hostile group. Officials stated the move responds directly to the British government's decision on July 13, 2026, to place Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the State Threats Act 2026.
The statement accused the UK of pursuing anti-Iranian policies over the past year. It cited Britain's provision of military and logistical bases within territories under its jurisdiction as part of a US-Israeli imposed war against Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry asserted that the new measures adhere to international law and the principle of reciprocity. The statement warned that the British government would bear responsibility for the consequences of these designations.
This reciprocal action follows the UK's earlier legal framework that treated the IRGC as a national security threat. The designation of the RAF and Royal Navy adds new layers of legal complexity to future interactions between the two nations' armed forces.
No immediate response from the UK government was cited in the Iranian ministry's release. The next steps in the diplomatic exchange remain to be determined by both foreign ministries.
