Britain is moving to give authorities sweeping new powers to target foreign state-linked groups as officials warn of growing threats tied to Iran and other hostile governments.The National Security (State Threats) Bill introduced Tuesday would give the UK government new powers to crack down on foreign state-linked organizations involved in activities such as assassination plots, surveillance and sabotage.The legislation could potentially be used against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG), though officials have not indicated whether the group would be among the first organizations designated.The proposal comes as British intelligence officials warn of increasing Iran-backed activity inside the UK.
Last year, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said the security service had tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots and recorded a 35% increase in state-threat investigations.UK COUNTERTERRORISM POLICE PROBE ANTISEMITIC ARSON ATTACK AS IRAN-LINKED GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITYBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood meet with security and justice officials at 10 Downing Street on April 30, 2026.The UK government this week introduced legislation that could be used against foreign state-linked groups, including potentially Iran's IRGC.
(Dan Kitwood/PA Images via Getty Images)Under the legislation, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood would have the authority to designate groups responsible for what the government calls "foreign power threat activity." Supporting designated organizations or accepting money from them could carry prison sentences of up to 14 years.British authorities have also investigated possible Iranian links to several recent incidents, including arson attacks targeting Jewish sites.The UK has separately secured convictions against individuals accused of spying for or acting on behalf of Russian and Chinese entities.The bill would create a new framework for tackling threats posed by foreign governments a...