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UK Parliament
On March 6, 2025, the UK House of Lords held a debate on the growing threats posed by the Iranian regime, with multiple members urging the government to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and take stronger action against the regime’s escalating human rights abuses. The discussion also addressed the imminent execution of political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, highlighting the regime’s use of torture and capital punishment to suppress dissent.
Baroness Kennedy reiterated calls for the IRGC’s terrorist designation, noting that “Sweden, Canada, the United States, and Bahrain—a whole set of countries—have already proscribed the IRGC.” She questioned whether the UK’s reluctance was linked to maintaining diplomatic relations with Tehran and suggested that, if full proscription was not possible, “can the leadership of the Revolutionary Guard not be placed on our targeted sanctions lists?”
Responding to the debate, Home Office Minister Lord Hanson confirmed that the government keeps proscription “under review at all times” but refrained from committing to an immediate decision. He announced that “Jonathan Hall KC has been asked to review the parts of our counterterrorism framework that could be applied to modern-day state threats, such as those from Iran.” The review will include examining whether a new proscription mechanism is needed for state-linked bodies like the IRGC.
#Iran News: @GOVUK Declares Clerical Regime a National Security Threat, Expands Crackdown on #IRGCterrorists and MOIShttps://t.co/my5xnXS7pF
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 5, 2025
Lord Arbuthnot pressed the government for clarity, asking: “If the Minister cannot confirm that the IRGC could be proscribed, what does ‘keeping it under review’ mean?” Similarly, Lord Cryer did not hold back, calling the IRGC “a bunch of clerical fascists and homicidal maniacs who specialize particularly in the rape, torture, and murder of women, among others.” He demanded to know what further actions the IRGC must take to warrant its proscription.
Meanwhile, Lord Polak, who has been personally sanctioned by Iran, expressed frustration over the delay, stating: “I fail to understand what more the IRGC needs to do to be proscribed.” He recalled that “I even voted with the Labour Party when the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, had an amendment to proscribe the IRGC. What does it have to do to be proscribed?
The government also placed Iran on the enhanced tier of its new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which will require individuals acting on behalf of foreign states to register their activities or face penalties, including potential prison sentences. “This is the first time we have placed an entire state on the enhanced tier,” Lord Hanson stated, emphasizing that the government is sending “a very strong signal to the Iranian regime that we will not tolerate its behavior.”
Lord David Alton, chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, raised urgent concerns about Ehsani and Hassani, whose appeals were recently rejected. “Hassani is a father of three; he was arrested in 2022 and taken to Evin Prison’s ward 209, where he was subjected to severe torture,” Lord Alton stated. He quoted Hassani’s message to the Iranian people: “This execution-driven regime knows nothing else. I will not bargain over my life. I am prepared to give my humble life for the freedom of the Iranian people.” He called on the government to coordinate with the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Special Rapporteur to challenge “the grossly wrong, unfair verdicts that have been delivered.”
Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani at imminent risk of execution: with @JimShannonMP I have agreed to be sponsor of one of the men sentenced to death & call for the immediate revocation of the death sentence against Mehdi Hassani. @HoAbedini @HumanRightsCtte https://t.co/06g8Ab8VmU pic.twitter.com/ZUMc8SN8Rx
— Lord (David) Alton (@DavidAltonHL) March 4, 2025
Lords also urged the government to engage directly with Iranian pro-democracy opposition groups. Baroness O’Loan stressed the importance of “supporting Iranian civil society and opposition movements advocating for a democratic, secular republic,” and called on the government to allow Maryam Rajavi, leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, to visit the UK.
While the government remains hesitant to proscribe the IRGC, it reaffirmed its commitment to countering Iranian interference, protecting Iranian dissidents in the UK, and monitoring threats from Tehran’s intelligence operations. However, the Lords pressed for more decisive action, warning that failing to act against Iran’s growing aggression could endanger British security and embolden the regime’s crackdown on dissent.