Iran brands British air force and navy ‘terrorists,’ declares MI6 hostile

Tehran has escalated its confrontation with London by declaring the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force terrorist organizations and bringing MI6 under Iranian legislation targeting cooperation with hostile states.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced the measures, formally labeling Britain’s overseas intelligence agency a “hostile group.” It presented the decision as retaliation for British policies it said had supported military operations against Iran.

Among Tehran’s grievances were Britain’s provision of bases and logistical facilities during the US-Israeli war against Iran, and its decision in July to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under state threats legislation.

The ministry said MI6 would now fall within the scope of Iran’s espionage law concerning cooperation with Israel and countries Tehran considers hostile. It separately invoked legislation adopted in response to Washington’s terrorist designation of the Revolutionary Guards to justify its action against Britain’s naval and air forces.

The announcement follows a series of British accusations against Iran. Last month, Prime Minister Andy Burnham accused Tehran of involvement in an attempted attack on RAF Fairford.

Other reported incidents have added to the tensions. Hackers linked to Iran allegedly shut down a British power station for four days in August, while British media have reported claims that Tehran sought to bring operatives into the UK through smuggling networks originating in the Middle East.