Iran’s exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi called on the new British government to classify the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, arguing that the proscription will boost democrats in Iran.
The IRGC is currently designated as a terrorist group by the United States, Bahrain, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden. The European Union is also considering a similar listing based on an initiative by Germany. The UK has sanctioned the IRGC “in its entirety,” yet London has not declared it a terrorist organization.
In an article published in The Telegraph, Iran's exiled prince emphasized that the IRGC has a long history of exporting “radical revolution,” including hostage-taking, assassination attempts, and terrorist attacks, which have also impacted Britain. He praised Canada’s recent decision to list the IRGC as a terrorist group and called on Britain to lead Europe in taking similar action.
Highlighting the IRGC's involvement in funding and supporting terrorist activities by groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, as well as its support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Pahlavi argued that the evidence against the IRGC is “unequivocal.” He also condemned the IRGC’s repression of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran.
The former UK government, led by the Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak, had considered proscribing the IRGC but decided against it on a number of occasions, arguing that listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization would hinder diplomatic dialogue with Tehran.
The Iranian prince dismissed the Sunak administration's stance, asserting that decades of appeasement have only emboldened them.
Pahlavi's plea comes amid political shifts in Iran, following the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash and the rise of Masoud Pezeshkian as his successor.
In his article, Pahlavi warned against viewing Pezeshkian as a reformist, describing him as a staunch supporter of the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic’s hardline policies.
“The Islamic regime is rattled, weak, and desperate. This is why they have allowed a so-called ‘reformer’ to win the presidency. He is a fig leaf. Western democracies should not fall for this political maneuver,” the prince said.
He also stressed the need for Western nations to support the Iranian people's desire for democracy and freedom, urging them to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic rather than easing it.
The prince called for a policy of maximum support for the Iranian people's fight for democracy, akin to the policies that helped end apartheid in South Africa and communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
Pahlavi concluded by envisioning a democratic, secular Iran at peace with its neighbors and contributing to regional prosperity, urging Britain to take the first step by listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Last month, a report by The Telegraph said the UK’s Labour Party intends to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist entity, if it wins the general election.
The leading figures in the Labour Party do not share the Conservatives' hesitation and would be willing to back a change in the law that would allow for the IRGC’s proscription.
Proscribing the IRGC as a terrorist group would mean it would become a criminal offence in Britain to belong to the group, attend its meetings or carry its logo in public. The IRGC is already subject to British sanctions.
