Iran has summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to protest the government’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist group” under newly introduced state-threat legislation.
The Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Ambassador Hugo Shorter was summoned by Alireza Yousefi, assistant foreign minister and director general for Western Europe.
Yousefi conveyed Iran’s strong protest over what Tehran described as an “unjustified” and “hostile” measure targeting the IRGC, the ministry said.
The UK government listed the IRGC as a terrorist group on Monday, using powers introduced under the National Security (State Threats) Act, according to media reports.
In a written statement to parliament, Security Minister Angela Eagle said the government had “identified activity linked to the IRGC involving threats to life and intimidation on UK soil.”
