Suella Braverman has tried to pile the pressure on rival Rishi Sunak as the sacked former home secretary issued a stark warning that it's time to "put national security first" by banning Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It comes as squabbling senior Tories ramp up calls for Britain to freeze diplomatic ties with Iran following its "reckless" botched attack on Israel.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is also calling for more stringent measures against the Revolutionary Guard, accusing them of "glorifying" terrorism on British soil. Prime Minister Sunak is poised to join forces with Western allies to impose new sanctions on Tehran in the coming days. Yet, despite mounting pressure, he is holding back from outlawing the IRGC, a move which would essentially cut off all relations with Iran.
He has stated that the government is actively using all available powers to prevent individuals from "make sure that people aren't fermenting hate and undermining British values here at home from abroad", reports the Express. Addressing Parliament, the PM said: "We are urgently working with our allies to see what steps we can take together in a co-ordinated fashion to deter and condemn what Iran is doing."
Sunak is set to encourage Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise caution in response to the assault, to prevent further destabilisation of the already volatile Middle East. He further commented: "With this attack Iran has once again shown its true colours. They are intent on sowing chaos in their own backyard, on further destabilising the Middle East. Our aim is to support stability and security because it is right for the region and because although the Middle East is thousands of miles away, it has a direct effect on our security and prosperity at home. So, we're working urgently with our allies to de-escalate the situation and prevent further bloodshed. We want to see calmer heads prevail and we're directing all our diplomatic efforts to that end."
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Israel was pelted by around 350 drones and missiles from Iran this Saturday, though most were intercepted before they could reach their intended targets. British jets leaped into action to down some of the Iranian offensive drones. This attack comes after Israeli forces targeted an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria earlier this month.
Iran has received sharp criticism for backing Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, who have both taken aim at Israel. They've also supported the Houthi group in Yemen, responsible for launching attacks on Red Sea shipping. Concerns about the dangerous operations of the IRGC have regularly been voiced in the House of Commons, gaining major support for the concept of proscribing the organisation.
In a report last year by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the warning bells rang, stating that the group carries responsibility for planning global terrorist attacks, hostage situations, and other hostile acts on foreign grounds - moreover, there's been a notable increase in their activities during the past decade.
The IRGC is reportedly behind efforts to foster homegrown extremism on UK soil, with its ideology being propagated in mosques, charities and schools. A report released this week by the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange warned that Iran "seeks to wield social and cultural influence" in the UK by establishing institutions that project power and influence. Pouria Zeraati, a 36 year old Iranian journalist, was stabbed outside his Wimbledon home last month in what he believes was a state-sponsored attack.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has urged the Prime Minister to "please, please" consider proscribing the IRGC and to "do it in a way that will ensure they can no longer ferment extremism here in the United Kingdom." He stated: "All roads lead back to Tehran when it comes to the terrible violence and the wars that take place in the Middle East. And every country, not just Israel, other Arab countries fear what Tehran is doing in their countries as well, I think we forget about it. We know that they are committing murder at home, they have executed thousands of protesters whilst this war ... has been taking place."
Braverman - who was sent packing by Sunak when he fired her from her role as home secretary after she defied him over an article accusing the Metropolitan Police of bias in the policing of protests - said it was time to "put the UK's national security first" by banning the IRGC.
She declared: "We have known for years that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the world's chief sponsor of terrorism, funding and promoting terrorist plots, radicalisation and hostage taking both in the Middle East and at home. We have proscribed Hezbollah, we have proscribed Hamas, Prime Minister, why don't we put the UK's national security first by now proscribing the IRGC? ".
In response, Mr Sunak articulated that the government acknowledges Iran as a threat, taking measures to counter it domestically and internationally. Further to this, he commented: "I'm confident the police, security services and courts all have the tools that they need to sanction, prosecute and mitigate threats from Iran, we strengthened our sanctions regime recently, including sanctioning the IRGC in its entirety."
Notably, the UK has refrained from proscribing the IRGC, which would essentially imply severing all diplomatic ties with Tehran. The US currently values Britain's relations after cutting their own links five years prior. Importantly, Mr Sunak confirmed he would only advocate for proscribing the organisation if advice from UK intelligence and security agencies deemed it prudent. On the other hand, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron emphasised that the circumstances were constantly monitored, but keeping diplomatic channels open was advantageous for Britain.
He stated: "We recognise what a dangerous organisation it is. Sanctions are in place. It is kept under review. The police have powers to deal with IRGC action. Diplomatic relations between Iran and the UK aren't great, but we can deliver direct messages to them. It is in Britain's interest to be able to do that."
The peer has advised Israel to be "smart as well as tough" suggesting they avoid escalating the conflict with Iran. The Foreign Secretary said in a series of broadcast interviews that Israel should consider Tehrans attack last weekend as an "almost total failure" and advocate for a methodical response, advising the country to "think with head as well as heart".
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asserted there was "no doubt" that the attack "has left the world a more dangerous place" and emphasised that Iran "must be wholly condemned by all". He noted "a full-scale conflict in the Middle East is in no-one's interest" and warned "it is a path that can only lead to more bloodshed, more instability and the unleashing of forces that are beyond the ability of anyone to control".
Sir Keir further demanded measures to restrain the power of the Revolutionary Guard to "glorify terrorism here in the UK".
Meanwhile, ex-Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told the Daily Express that Irans failure to break through Israeli defences exposes its regime as not as mighty as it purports itself to be. In his words: "The Israelis would be entitled to respond after such a major attack on their territory by Iran even though it failed." He recommended "The Israelis should be guided by their assessment of the competence and quality of Iranian air defences. If they believe they could launch missiles and other weaponry at Iran and the Iranians would be unable to intercept them, then there is no good reason why they should not do so. The whole world, including the people of Iran, would see how powerful Israel's armed forces are compared to those of Iran. That would help deter future direct aggression by Iran against Israel."