In brief
Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared on Sunday that it would treat Britain’s Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and MI6 as terrorist and hostile entities, a punitive response to perceived anti‑Iran actions by the United Kingdom. The move came after a resolution approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and signals a potential escalation of diplomatic and economic tensions between the two nations.
On Sunday, 1 November 2026, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran would officially designate the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Secret Intelligence Service – commonly known as MI6 – as terrorist and hostile entities.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said:
We hereby designate the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and MI6 as “terrorist and hostile” entities.
The announcement came as part of a broader denunciation of what the ministry called the UK’s anti‑Iran policies over the past year, a move the Iranian government said would be enforced immediately. The declaration was made following a resolution approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the ministry said.
According to the statement, Iran condemned the United Kingdom’s actions as contrary to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, citing the policy of granting the UK the right to host or assist in military bases and facilities that the ministry said were used against Iran. The ministry also cited the UK’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a “threat to national security” as evidence of hostile conduct. Tehran insisted that the decision was made in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and international law.
The Foreign Ministry’s move is a retaliatory response to the UK’s perceived support for a coalition fighting Iran, a claim the ministry said was “unlawful.” In the same declaration, Iran warned the United Kingdom of a range of potential reciprocal measures, saying that the British government would bear responsibility for the consequences of its “hostile” policies. Tehran framed the decision as a necessary step to safeguard its national security and interests.
The statement was read out by the ministry’s spokesperson and later distributed to global news outlets, including Xinhua. In an accompanying release, the ministry repeated that “terrorist and hostile” labels would be applied to any entities the UK deems responsible for supporting opposing forces in the region, though it left the scope of the designation open. Analysts noted that the language mirrors past uses of similar designations by Iran in response to sanctions and diplomatic pressure.
The diplomatic fallout is expected to deepen tensions between the two countries, especially as the UK accuses Iran of sponsoring terrorist organizations. In response, several other nations have expressed concern that heightened rhetoric could destabilize security in the Middle East. As of now, Tehran has not announced specific punitive measures against Britain, but the Foreign Ministry has signaled that its declaration will be followed by further steps if London “continues” its anti‑Iran stance.
Observers warn that reciprocal actions could broaden the scope of sanctions and affect multinational businesses operating in both countries. While Iran’s classification may trigger new restrictions against British military contractors and intelligence personnel based in Tehran, the United Kingdom has yet to confirm whether it will modify its stance on Iranian partners. The international community will likely monitor how the two governments adjust their policies in the coming days.