Britain’s Foreign Office has blocked a plan that would have led to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) proscribed as a terrorist organisation, according to a report.
The government department cited the need to keep communication channels with Tehran open as relations between the two countries continue on a downward spiral.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was told by MPs in the House of Commons this week there had been a “major groundswell” in requests for the Sunak government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Mr Cleverly said the Revolutionary Guard’s “malign impact” was felt across the region and the world, but stopped short of saying a proscription was in the pipeline.
Campaigners, analysts and politicians from across the political spectrum have urged the Conservative government to place the IRGC in the same category as Al Qaeda and ISIS. MI5, the UK’s security service, has accused Tehran of plotting to assassinate or abduct British residents on several occasions.
Journalists in London have been given round-the-clock police protection after being sent death threats.
Iran’s execution of British-Iranian citizen Ali Reza Akbari on spying charges last month further soured diplomatic relations.
Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the home secretary has the authority to place a group on the UK’s terrorist list if they believe it is concerned in terrorism, and it is proportionate to do so.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, and Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, are understood to be in favour of a proscription for the IRGC.
But the Foreign Office is said to have halted the plan, citing the need to retain a communication channel with Iran.
The Times quoted a Whitehall source as saying officials in the Foreign Office “have real concerns about proscription because they want to maintain access”.
“The Home Office, and the government more broadly, supports the move,” the insider added. “The IRGC should have been proscribed by now but the whole process is on ice.”
Officials in the Foreign Office, which is led by Mr Cleverly, reportedly questioned how the IRGC would be defined as a terrorist organisation given the fact it is a government agency, unlike most other groups on the list.
The Foreign Office declined to comment.
The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly declined to say whether the government has plans to proscribe the IRGC, but said ministers would not limit themselves to current sanctions options against Iran.
David Lammy, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, earlier this week questioned Mr Cleverly about such a move.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is responsible for 10 kidnap and death plots on British soil, the execution of Ali Reza Akbari, the unjust imprisonment of British nationals, supports violent militia across the Middle East, and a brutal crackdown on courageous Iranian protesters,” Mr Lammy said in parliament.
“Labour has been clear, and I wonder if we might get clarity from the Foreign Secretary, we would proscribe the IRGC either using existing terrorism legislation or by creating a new process of proscription for hostile state actors. When is the Foreign Secretary going to act?”
Mr Cleverly replied that the government had “already sanctioned over 300 individuals and entities because of the crackdown on protesters”, as well as individuals and organisations involved in supplying drones to Russia.
The UK has also imposed sanctions on the prosecutor general responsible for passing the death penalty on Mr Akbari, he said, “and we will continue to take actions which will curtail the ability of the IRGC to do these things”.
Mr Cleverly said that ministers “always keep our future options under review”.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes.
Where to stay
The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Sevilla v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad (7.15pm)
Eibar v Valencia (9.30pm)
Atletico Madrid v Alaves (11.45pm)
Sunday
Girona v Getafe (3pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7.15pm)
Las Palmas v Espanyol (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Deportivo la Coruna (11.45pm)
Monday
Malaga v Real Betis (midnight)
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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