logo
Iran poses ‘significant threat to Britain' with Tehran's spies targeting UK as a priority, report finds

Iran poses ‘significant threat to Britain' with Tehran's spies targeting UK as a priority, report finds

The Sun10-07-2025
IRAN poses a significant threat to Britain with Tehran's spies targeting the UK as a priority, a new report has found.
The Islamic Republic is capable of 'wide-ranging, persistent and unpredictable' attacks on our country, according to the Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee.
3
3
3
Assassination attempts are mainly directed at dissidents living on UK soil with the Director General of MI5 Sir Ken McCallum revealing that their operations are built around 'regime survival, dissidents and media organisations'.
They will go after anyone they perceive as 'being problematic for the regime'.
Potential targets listed in the report include Iranian dissidents, journalists, individuals convicted of terror offences in Iran, activists, former government employees, environmentalists, refugees, university students, and employees at international non-governmental organisations.
British civil servants have had their personal email addresses targeted by Iranian cyber security attacks in an attempt to find out information about the UK government.
Any calls made to and from Iran are believed to be intercepted by their security services to 'support espionage operations'.
Sir Ken revealed that Iranians are attempting to recruit junior people who don't currently have access to privileged information in Government but might one day.
He said: 'They are patient and up for trying to do … seeding type of operations where they cultivate people who might be a bit more naive, or early in their careers with a view to then becoming longer-term assets.'
MI5 has also seen that Israeli or Jewish entities in the UK have been the target of potential attacks.
Iranian intelligence services are 'willing and able' to try to assassinate targets in the UK, with at least 15 murder or kidnap attempts from the beginning of 2022 to August 2023.
In May three alleged Iranian spies - two of which came to the UK on a small boat - were charged with targeting UK-based journalists so that "serious violence" could be inflicted on them.
Iran claims it could assassinate Trump 'while he sunbathes at Mar-a-Lago' amid alert over terrorist sleeper cells in US
Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, are thought to have targeted people working at Iran International, an independent media organisation based in London.
The 246-page report by the Intelligence and Security Committee stopped taking evidence back in August 2023 - so does not consider the October 7 attacks by Hamas or any more recent threats to the UK by Iranian state actors.
It has also found that Iran's nuclear weapons programme would 'pose a threat to UK nationals in the region and to the UK mainland' if it was allowed to grow.
As of August 2023, the committee said that Iran had not yet developed a nuclear weapons programme or taken a decision to produce one.
In June of this year Donald Trump launched a blitz on Iran's nuclear sites when he sent a dozen bunker buster bombs to target the mountain-fortress Fordow.
UN's top nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has since warned that Iran could start enriching uranium again within months.
Tehran admitted that the US and joint Israeli operations caused 'excessive and serious damage'.
Iran is said to want to build a 'deep alliance' with Vladimir Putin's Russia despite a 'legacy of distrust and suspicion'.
'IRAN POSES AN UNPREDICTABLE THREAT TO THE UK'
The Chairman of the ISC, The Rt Hon. the Lord Beamish PC, said: "Iran poses a wide-ranging, persistent and unpredictable threat to the UK, UK nationals, and UK interests.
'Iran has a high appetite for risk when conducting offensive activity and its intelligence services are ferociously well-resourced with significant areas of asymmetric strength.
'It supplements this with its use of proxy groups - including criminal networks, militant and terrorist organisations, and private cyber actors - to provide it with a deniable means of attacking its adversaries with minimal risk of retaliation.
'As the Committee was told, Iran is there across the full spectrum of all the kinds of threats we have to be concerned with.'
The report highlights that there has been a 'sharp increase' in the threat of physical attacks posed to dissidents and other opponents of the regime on UK soil.
Iran has a 'willingness to use assassination as an instrument of state policy'.
He added: 'We remain concerned that the Government's policy on Iran has suffered from a focus on crisis management and has been primarily driven by concerns over Iran's nuclear programme - to the exclusion of other issues.
''Fire-fighting' has prevented the Government from developing a real understanding of Iran, with a lack of Iran-specific expertise across Government.
'As with our previous Inquiries into China and Russia, governance structures are over-complicated - with the attendant risk of too much talking at the expense of action.
The Government must move on: the national security threat from Iran requires a longer-term view, and resourcing must be consistent with that threat."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza
UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza

Rhyl Journal

timean hour ago

  • Rhyl Journal

UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza

The Prime Minister recalled his senior team of ministers from their summer recess to discuss the situation in Gaza, where the population is facing a mounting famine, according to warnings from the United Nations. A readout of the Cabinet meeting issued by Downing Street said Sir Keir told ministers 'now was the right time to move this position' on the two-state solution. The readout continued: 'He said that because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two-state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward. 'He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (UN General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution.' It comes after the Prime Minister had been under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine amid the warnings of starvation in Gaza. Speaking from Downing Street's state dining room – sometimes used for press statements – the Prime Minister then told reporters that the Government will 'make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps'. No should 'should have a veto over our decision', Sir Keir insisted. Sir Keir said the British Government was focused on getting aid into Gaza and getting hostages released when asked why Palestinian recognition was conditional on Israel de-escalating the situation. He added: 'This is intended to further that course, and it is done now because I am particularly concerned that the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many, many years and, therefore, it should be seen in both of those contexts.' While Sir Keir has suggested UK recognition of Palestine is conditional on the crisis not abating, No 10 is understood to believe that such a two-state solution would also proceed from negotiations towards a sustained peace. The UK will keep working with its allies to 'end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East', Sir Keir said, adding: 'Because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.' In a hardening of his language about the crisis in Gaza, the Prime Minister has claimed the British public is 'revolted' by scenes of starvation in the territory. The UK and its allies need to see 'at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day' to deliver aid, the Prime Minister added, and are together 'mounting a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back in' by air and by land. The Prime Minister discussed a UK-led international plan to alleviate the crisis in Gaza with Donald Trump on Monday, when the US president acknowledged there was 'real starvation' in the territory. Sir Keir has likened the plan he is working on with France and Germany to the coalition of the willing, the international effort to support Ukraine towards a lasting peace. Amid international alarm over starvation in Gaza, Israel announced at the weekend that it would suspend fighting in three areas for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery. The UK confirmed it was taking part in airdrops of aid into the territory. Aid agencies have welcomed the new measures but said they were not enough to counter the rising hunger in the Palestinian territory. Sir Keir has been facing calls from a growing number of MPs to recognise a Palestinian state immediately. More than 250 cross-party MPs have now signed a letter calling for ministers to take the step, up from 221 on Friday. Sarah Champion, the senior Labour MP who organised the letter, told BBC Radio 4 the Prime Minister's announcement was 'a really big movement' and would send a message to Israel that the status quo 'is not good enough'. But she added: 'I am a little concerned though that from what I'm hearing it seems to be conditional on Israel accepting some terms and I don't understand why the two things are being linked together.' Opposition parties also raised concerns about the conditional nature of the UK's position, with Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey criticising Sir Keir for using Palestinian statehood as a 'bargaining chip', while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts called for the 'immediate recognition of Palestine'. Israel meanwhile said it 'rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom'. A statement on social media site X, the country's foreign ministry added: 'The shift in the British Government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages.'

UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza
UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza

Leader Live

time2 hours ago

  • Leader Live

UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza

The Prime Minister recalled his senior team of ministers from their summer recess to discuss the situation in Gaza, where the population is facing a mounting famine, according to warnings from the United Nations. A readout of the Cabinet meeting issued by Downing Street said Sir Keir told ministers 'now was the right time to move this position' on the two-state solution. The readout continued: 'He said that because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two-state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward. 'He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (UN General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution.' It comes after the Prime Minister had been under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine amid the warnings of starvation in Gaza. Speaking from Downing Street's state dining room – sometimes used for press statements – the Prime Minister then told reporters that the Government will 'make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps'. No should 'should have a veto over our decision', Sir Keir insisted. Sir Keir said the British Government was focused on getting aid into Gaza and getting hostages released when asked why Palestinian recognition was conditional on Israel de-escalating the situation. He added: 'This is intended to further that course, and it is done now because I am particularly concerned that the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many, many years and, therefore, it should be seen in both of those contexts.' While Sir Keir has suggested UK recognition of Palestine is conditional on the crisis not abating, No 10 is understood to believe that such a two-state solution would also proceed from negotiations towards a sustained peace. The UK will keep working with its allies to 'end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East', Sir Keir said, adding: 'Because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.' In a hardening of his language about the crisis in Gaza, the Prime Minister has claimed the British public is 'revolted' by scenes of starvation in the territory. The UK and its allies need to see 'at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day' to deliver aid, the Prime Minister added, and are together 'mounting a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back in' by air and by land. The Prime Minister discussed a UK-led international plan to alleviate the crisis in Gaza with Donald Trump on Monday, when the US president acknowledged there was 'real starvation' in the territory. Sir Keir has likened the plan he is working on with France and Germany to the coalition of the willing, the international effort to support Ukraine towards a lasting peace. Amid international alarm over starvation in Gaza, Israel announced at the weekend that it would suspend fighting in three areas for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery. The UK confirmed it was taking part in airdrops of aid into the territory. Aid agencies have welcomed the new measures but said they were not enough to counter the rising hunger in the Palestinian territory. Sir Keir has been facing calls from a growing number of MPs to recognise a Palestinian state immediately. More than 250 cross-party MPs have now signed a letter calling for ministers to take the step, up from 221 on Friday. Sarah Champion, the senior Labour MP who organised the letter, told BBC Radio 4 the Prime Minister's announcement was 'a really big movement' and would send a message to Israel that the status quo 'is not good enough'. But she added: 'I am a little concerned though that from what I'm hearing it seems to be conditional on Israel accepting some terms and I don't understand why the two things are being linked together.' Opposition parties also raised concerns about the conditional nature of the UK's position, with Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey criticising Sir Keir for using Palestinian statehood as a 'bargaining chip', while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts called for the 'immediate recognition of Palestine'. Israel meanwhile said it 'rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom'. A statement on social media site X, the country's foreign ministry added: 'The shift in the British Government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages.'

UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza
UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza

South Wales Guardian

time2 hours ago

  • South Wales Guardian

UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Israel ‘takes steps' over Gaza

The Prime Minister recalled his senior team of ministers from their summer recess to discuss the situation in Gaza, where the population is facing a mounting famine, according to warnings from the United Nations. A readout of the Cabinet meeting issued by Downing Street said Sir Keir told ministers 'now was the right time to move this position' on the two-state solution. The readout continued: 'He said that because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two-state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward. 'He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (UN General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution.' It comes after the Prime Minister had been under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine amid the warnings of starvation in Gaza. Speaking from Downing Street's state dining room – sometimes used for press statements – the Prime Minister then told reporters that the Government will 'make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps'. No should 'should have a veto over our decision', Sir Keir insisted. Sir Keir said the British Government was focused on getting aid into Gaza and getting hostages released when asked why Palestinian recognition was conditional on Israel de-escalating the situation. He added: 'This is intended to further that course, and it is done now because I am particularly concerned that the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many, many years and, therefore, it should be seen in both of those contexts.' While Sir Keir has suggested UK recognition of Palestine is conditional on the crisis not abating, No 10 is understood to believe that such a two-state solution would also proceed from negotiations towards a sustained peace. The UK will keep working with its allies to 'end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East', Sir Keir said, adding: 'Because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.' In a hardening of his language about the crisis in Gaza, the Prime Minister has claimed the British public is 'revolted' by scenes of starvation in the territory. The UK and its allies need to see 'at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day' to deliver aid, the Prime Minister added, and are together 'mounting a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back in' by air and by land. The Prime Minister discussed a UK-led international plan to alleviate the crisis in Gaza with Donald Trump on Monday, when the US president acknowledged there was 'real starvation' in the territory. Sir Keir has likened the plan he is working on with France and Germany to the coalition of the willing, the international effort to support Ukraine towards a lasting peace. Amid international alarm over starvation in Gaza, Israel announced at the weekend that it would suspend fighting in three areas for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery. The UK confirmed it was taking part in airdrops of aid into the territory. Aid agencies have welcomed the new measures but said they were not enough to counter the rising hunger in the Palestinian territory. Sir Keir has been facing calls from a growing number of MPs to recognise a Palestinian state immediately. More than 250 cross-party MPs have now signed a letter calling for ministers to take the step, up from 221 on Friday. Sarah Champion, the senior Labour MP who organised the letter, told BBC Radio 4 the Prime Minister's announcement was 'a really big movement' and would send a message to Israel that the status quo 'is not good enough'. But she added: 'I am a little concerned though that from what I'm hearing it seems to be conditional on Israel accepting some terms and I don't understand why the two things are being linked together.' Opposition parties also raised concerns about the conditional nature of the UK's position, with Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey criticising Sir Keir for using Palestinian statehood as a 'bargaining chip', while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts called for the 'immediate recognition of Palestine'. Israel meanwhile said it 'rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom'. A statement on social media site X, the country's foreign ministry added: 'The shift in the British Government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store