UK Weighs Ban on Iran Guard

United Kingdom is preparing to ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps following a violent crackdown on protesters in Iran that reportedly left thousands dead.

The British Home Office confirmed to The Times that it is drafting legislation to outlaw the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, with sources indicating the bill could be ready later this year. If adopted, the move would mark one of the strongest steps taken by London against Tehran’s security apparatus.

The development comes a day after the European Union approved the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization, alongside new punitive measures targeting Iranian officials over the recent repression.

Under the proposed UK legislation, police would gain expanded powers to pursue individuals suspected of acting on behalf of the IRGC. These measures could include passport seizures and the search of people and premises deemed to pose a security threat.

However, the plan has reportedly faced internal resistance. According to The Times, the UK Secret Intelligence Service has raised concerns that a full ban could damage diplomatic channels with Tehran and prompt the expulsion of British diplomats from Iran. The Foreign Office is also said to be advocating an alternative approach, urging targeted sanctions against known IRGC members rather than a blanket designation.

On Wednesday, the EU agreed to impose visa bans and asset freezes on 21 Iranian entities and officials, including Iran’s interior minister, in response to the crackdown on demonstrators.

Iranian authorities acknowledge that thousands were killed during the unrest, placing the death toll at more than 3,000, but claim most of those killed were security personnel or bystanders caught up in violence blamed on what they describe as rioters. Human rights groups and media reports have challenged those figures, arguing that the real number of victims is far higher and that many protesters were shot dead by security forces, including units linked to the IRGC.

The debate in London underscores growing pressure on Western governments to toughen their stance toward Tehran as scrutiny of Iran’s human rights record intensifies.