Prime Minister Keir Starmer Pledges Fast-Tracked Legislation to Proscribe Iran’s IRGC Amid Rising Proxy Attacks

PM Keir Starmer vows emergency legislation to ban the IRGC as UK police investigate Iranian-backed arson attacks against the Jewish community.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 10:13 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

Accelerating National Security Measures Against Malign State Actors

The British government is moving to formalize the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a primary response to escalating domestic security threats. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the government intends to "bring forward" specific legislation designed to designate the Iranian state entity as a terrorist organization. This move follows months of debate regarding the legal threshold for proscribing state-run bodies, with Starmer emphasizing that the current framework must be updated to address the modern reality of hybrid warfare and state-sponsored intimidation on British soil.

Investigating Iranian Proxy Involvement in Domestic Arson

The Metropolitan Police and counter-terrorism units are currently investigating a series of six coordinated incidents targeting Jewish premises, including an arson attempt at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. According to Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes, a "very serious line of inquiry" links these attacks to Iranian-backed proxies. The investigation has already resulted in 15 arrests, with officials describing a "violence as a service" model where individuals are recruited for cash to carry out attacks against synagogues, Jewish-led ambulance services, and Persian media organizations critical of the Tehran regime.

Strengthening Coordination Between Police and Community Security

In response to the growing threat, the Prime Minister emphasized the necessity of a robust operational link between the police and the Community Security Trust (CST). Starmer noted that regular briefings have highlighted the use of domestic proxies as a "real and growing concern" that requires more than just reactive policing. The government’s strategy involves not only proscription but also a comprehensive review of protest laws and the implementation of measures to root out antisemitism within public institutions, including schools, colleges, and the National Health Service (NHS).