The head of Britain’s counter extremism unit has criticised the government for going against the UK “national interest” by failing to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp a terrorist organisation.
In light of the IRGC’s support for Hamas and its atrocities in Israel, Robin Simcox said it was “unsustainable” for the British government not to proscribe the outfit.
In his first major speech as the head of the Commission for Countering Extremism, Mr Simcox was outspoken on the need to designate the IRGC, following the US lead in 2019.
“Who government does and does not proscribe is not down to me,” he said in a speech at the Rusi think-tank. “But from a counter extremism perspective, I believe it is in the national interest.”
The IRGC had “operated like a terrorist organisation ever since its inception” in 1979, providing support to other extremist groups “while plotting acts of violence around the world itself”.
He highlighted Iran’s malign influence in Britain which has seen “15 credible threats” to kill or kidnap individuals in Britain since last year. But it was still legal for the IRGC to be “hosted in UK institutions,” said Mr Simcox, a former think-tank director.
“That was highly unsatisfactory before,” he said. “It is surely unsustainable now.”
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat avoided supporting Mr Simcox’s position and rejected his claim that Britain was a “permissive environment” for anti-Semitism.
But Mr Tugendhat admitted that the Tehran regime had “been attempting to attack targets of Israeli or Jewish importance” in Britain and that “we have been fighting them here”.
According to the Home Office, Mr Simcox’s official role is to “provide the government with impartial, expert advice” as well as the policies “needed to tackle extremism”.
Mr Simcox, who has testified to the US Congress about ISIS and al-Qaeda, went on to state that “one of Hamas’s key backers” for cash and arms was Iran.
“But what is underappreciated is the scale of Iranian-backed activity in this country; and the extent to which Iran attempts to stoke extremism here,” he said.
Iran and the IRGC had also trained the Russians to use their Shahed drones to kill Ukrainians and bombing technology to target British soldiers during the war in Iraq.
It had temporarily stopped the Iran International television chancel from broadcasting in Britain after MI5 discovered credible threats to staff.
“Iran looks to spread its influence in the UK via sermons delivered by receptive clerics; television channels; schools and educational institutes; donations to UK universities; or online disinformation campaigns,” he added.
Furthermore, organisations with Iranian links made it “a religious obligation” for Shia Muslims inside and outside Iran to “display obedience to the Supreme Leader”.
He also touched on the extreme right and left wings in Britain, stating that the former was “fractured, divided, incoherent, and chaotic” and politically discredited.
However, he warned of a “vulnerability” in which the hard right “grasps on to certain issues which are of mainstream concern, filters them through an extremist lens, toxifies them”.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
RESULTS FOR STAGE 4
Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.
Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Bullet%20Train
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Leitch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Aaron%20Taylor-Johnson%2C%20Brian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Sandra%20Bullock%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
