What is Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and does it operate in the UK?

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a branch of Iran’s military created to protect the ruling Islamic Republic NewsUKHome NewsWhat is Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and does it operate in the UK?The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a branch of Iran’s military created to protect the ruling Islamic RepublicGeorge Lithgow Friday 06 March 2026 14:26 GMTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverFour arrested on suspicion of spying for IranYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreFour men have been arrested on suspicion of spying on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in London for Iran.While the Metropolitan Police has not said the suspects were working for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military branch has a history of operating inside the UK.Just this week, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the UK Government to introduce emergency legislation to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, arguing it is “more desperate and dangerous than ever”.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday in the Commons that the UK is “working 24/7 on dealing with any threats to this country”.He added: “We don’t comment on proscription, but we have made the case that there needs to be legislation to deal with state-backed terrorist groups, and we’re looking into that.”What is the IRGC?The IRGC is a branch of Iran’s military created to protect the ruling Islamic Republic.This includes preventing coups, suppressing dissent and defending government leadership.open image in gallerySecurity minister Dan Jarvis said there was a long-standing pattern of the Iranian intelligence services ‘targeting Jewish and Israeli people internationally’ (House of Commons/UK Parliament)The IRGC has been linked to the recent suppression of anti-government protests in the country, in which hundreds of people were killed and thousands detained.Its activities also include running intelligence operations both in Iran and around the world, alongside the ministry of intelligence and security.Does it operate in the UK?The IRGC has been linked to at least 20 credible threats in the UK since 2022.Speaking to MPs last year, security minister Dan Jarvis said there was a long-standing pattern of the Iranian intelligence services “targeting Jewish and Israeli people internationally”.The Iranian regime wanted to “stifle criticism through intimidation and fear”, he said.The IRGC’s activities against the UK can be physical, or involve malicious cyber-activity.What has it been caught doing before?In June, a British man was arrested on suspicion of espionage and terrorism offences in Cyprus.The man was reported to have kept the RAF Akrotiri base on the island under surveillance and was alleged to have links with the IRGC.Separately, the same RAF site was hit by an Iranian-made drone launched from Beirut in Lebanon earlier this week.In 2024, an Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed outside his home in Wimbledon, south London.Three suspects identified in connection with the attack were believed to have fled the country within hours of the incident.open image in galleryIn 2024, an Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed outside his home in Wimbledon (Iran International)Mr Zeraati was working for London-based dissident channel Iran International, which works to provide independent coverage of Iran.The broadcaster said Tehran’s revolutionary guards had been targeting it.In a separate case in December 2023, an IT worker was jailed for three-and-a-half years for spying on Iran International before a “planned attack” on British soil.Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev carried out hostile reconnaissance for others unknown at the London headquarters.After a trial at the Old Bailey, the Chechnya-born Austrian was found guilty of trying to collect information for terrorist purposes.In 2024, former British soldier Daniel Khalife was found guilty of spying for Iran.open image in galleryIn 2024, former British soldier Daniel Khalife was found guilty of spying for Iran (PA)Having approached a “middle man” by sending him a Facebook message, Khalife told the Iranians he would stay undercover i