Iranupdated 1h ago3 min read
Iran Foreign Ministry Classifies UK Royal Navy and RAF as Terrorist Organizations, MI6 as Hostile
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Iran designates Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organizations. MI6 labeled a hostile group in reciprocal measures against Britain.
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Hostile labels take effect
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that it classified the British Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force as "terrorist organizations" and labeled MI6 as a "hostile group" in measures it said came into force as soon as its statement was published on Sunday, November 1. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the decisions were issued based on a decision by Iran's Supreme National Security Council and described them as a response to what it called the British government’s hostile actions over the past year. Iran’s Foreign Ministry cited Britain’s July 13 decision to subject the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the 2026 Government Threats Law as part of hostile policies toward Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also said it was acting in accordance with international law and on the basis of the reciprocity principle, and it affirmed that the British government bears full responsibility for the consequences of these decisions. Iran’s Foreign Ministry framed its justification around what it called Britain’s participation in what Tehran calls the "American-Israeli war" on Iran through military and logistical bases and facilities on territories under its jurisdiction.
Iran cites legal basis
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it classified MI6 as a "hostile group" under Note 2 to Article 1 of the law on "Enhancing Punishments for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime and Hostile Countries Against National Security and Interests" and said the provisions of that law would apply to the British agency. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it added the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to lists of terrorist organizations under the law on "Countermeasures Against the United States' Designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Terrorist Organization." Iran’s Foreign Ministry also condemned Britain’s "hostile practices," stressing that they violate the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, especially with regard to state sovereignty and the prohibition of unlawful interference.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry concluded that the measures come in accordance with international law standards and in line with the principle of mutual respect. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it based the measures on a decision of the Supreme National Security Council in response to British actions over the past year, including providing military and logistical support through British facilities and bases.
Reciprocity and wider tensions
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it was taking reciprocal measures in response to what it described as Britain’s "illegal and hostile actions" over the past year, including Britain’s "participation in the US-Israeli war imposed on Iran" by providing military and logistical facilities and bases under British jurisdiction.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the designations took effect on November 1, and it described MI6 as being designated under Iran’s Law on Intensifying Punishment for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime and Hostile Countries Against National Security and Interests.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were designated under Iran’s Law on Reciprocal Action Against the United States’ Designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Terrorist Organization.
Israeli media reported that the Israeli army has completed its preparations for a military confrontation with Iran, with the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper saying the decision to resume war remains in the hands of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also asserted that it was determined to take necessary measures to protect Iran’s national security and interests, while it condemned Britain’s anti-Iranian policies and actions as violating the UN Charter and international law.