Labour Friends of Israel
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Iran

For several years, LFI has warned about the activities and agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran which not only poses an existential threat to Israel, but also a substantial threat to Britain. 

 

Iran is a hugely destabilising force in the Middle East. Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic revolution was never designed to be confined to within Iran’s borders. Thus, with financial assistance, guidance and training provided by the regime’s ideological warriors, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Tehran has established and commands a broad network of Shia militant proxy armies and terror groups, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Houthis. Iran’s strategic goal is the completion of an “arc of influence” – a land bridge connecting Tehran to the Mediterranean Sea and the Israeli border. The completion of the land link would allow for the free flow of arms, soldiers and oil from Hezbollah in the Golan to Iran, via Syria and Assadist forces and Shia-controlled Iraq. 

 

Alongside its proxy armies, Tehran has a burgeoning ballistic missile arsenal and appears to be actively pursuing a nuclear weapons programme with repeated and continual breaches of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action. These developments are concerning not simply because Iran has the Middle East’s largest and most diverse missile arsenal, with a range of up to 2,000km but because of its status as the only country that openly calls for the annihilation of another state.  

 

The regime’s pernicious activities overseas are matched by a malign record at home. Over the past four decades, Iran’s human rights record has consistently been one of the worst in the world. Dissent is rarely tolerated and ruthlessly put down. In the protests and clampdown which followed the death at the hands of the “morality police” of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022, approximately 500 protesters, including at least 68 children, were killed by the security forces and almost 20,000 people were arrested. In 2023, Iran executed over 700 people – a significant increase on 2022 – with the widespread use of torture; severe restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly and the rights of women; and the targeting of human rights and union activists, lawyers, journalists, students and minorities, including the LGBTQ+ community and religious minorities. 

 

LFI has led the way in calling for the British government to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Labour supports proscription, and set out the legislative changes necessary to make it happen. Outlining his decision, the shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy stated: “The Iranian regime’s actions against courageous protestors seeking a better future, as well as British nationals imprisoned in Iran and its threats to UK security mean robust action is needed now. The IRGC is behaving like a terrorist organisation and must now be proscribed as such.” Labour reiterated its commitment to proscribe the IRGC at LFI’s 2023 annual lunch. 

 

LFI previously played a leading role in the effort to persuade the British government to proscribe Hezbollah in its entirety in the UK, with our former chair, Joan Ryan, at the forefront of parliamentary efforts. This work came to fruition in January 2019, when the government agreed that there was no meaningful distinction between Hezbollah’s political and military wings and proscribed the former. Another former chair, Dame Louise Ellman, repeatedly highlighted – and called for an end to – protestors parading Hezbollah flags at the annual Al-Quds Day march in London. 

 

LFI also works to highlight the danger posed by Iran’s ballistic missile programme. As Michael Herzog, former head of the IDF’s strategic planning and now Israel’s ambassador to the United States, argued in LFI’s publication on Iran, “missiles would serve as the main delivery system for a nuclear weapon. At the same time, missiles, rockets and, increasingly, armed drones are proliferated by Iran as a central tool in its regional power projection.” 

 

Our chair, Steve McCabe MP, led calls for the British government to act before the Iranian missile ban lapsed, as well as raising concerns about the expiry of sanctions covering Tehran’s ballistic missile programme. 

 

LFI has exposed Iran’s appalling human rights record and the past failures of the government to impose Magnitsky sanctions – which are designed to promote human rights and punish corruption. We were pleased that David Lammy has echoed our calls for employing such sanctions.  

Labour MPs push government on Iran nuclear threat

At today’s statement in the Commons from the Foreign Secretary on the conflict between Israel and the Iranian regime, a number of Labour MPs pushed the government on the issue of the nuclear threat posed by Iran to Israel and the wider Middle East. LFI chair Jon Pearce MP asked: Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 week16 June, 2025 ago

Foreign Secretary warns of existential threat to Israel from nuclear Iran

At today’s statement in the Commons from the Foreign Secretary on the conflict between Israel and the Iranian regime, Foreign Secretary David Lammy set out the government’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself and concern about Iran’s nuclear programme. He said: “It should come as no surprise that Israel Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 week16 June, 2025 ago

Starmer: UK supports Israel’s right to self-defence against nuclear Iran

In an interview with the Bloomberg News this afternoon following Israel’s overnight strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set out his “grave concerns” about Iran’s nuclear programme and reasserted his support for Israel’s right to self-defence against the Iranian threat. “It’s obvious that for a long Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 weeks13 June, 2025 ago
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LFI statement on Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities

The malign activities of the Iranian regime – including its nuclear ambitions – are a grave threat to Israel, the Middle East, Ukraine and the UK. Again and again, Iranian leaders have made plain their intention to destroy Israel. Their attempts to develop nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 weeks13 June, 2025 ago
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LFI responds to suspension of free trade talks with Israel

Full Statement The Netanyahu government has been a disaster for Israel and its security, for the Palestinian people, and for the prospects of a wider regional peace. Netanyahu’s decision to stop aid flowing into Gaza at the bequest of his far-right coalition partners is unjustifiable and we have consistently opposed Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 month20 May, 2025 ago

Foreign Secretary: “Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon”

At today’s Foreign Office Questions session, Foreign Secretary David Lammy set out the government’s position on the ongoing negotiations with Iran led by the United States to secure a new nuclear deal. He said: “The UK is supportive of US efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran. We have Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 month13 May, 2025 ago

Labour peers push government on IRGC proscription

At today’s Lords statement on counter-terrorism arrests of Iranian nationals over the weekend, Labour peers raised questions around proscription of the Iranian IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Lord Cryer asked “My Lords, I appreciate my noble friend’s efforts and words in coming here today to make this full Statement, but—I Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 months7 May, 2025 ago

Middle East Minister condemns Houthi airport attack

At today’s statement on the situation in the Middle East, Minister Hamish Falconer MP reiterated the government’s position on the conflict in Gaza and condemned the recent Houthi attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. On the Houthi attack over the weekend, he said: “I absolutely condemn the Houthis’ continued Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 months6 May, 2025 ago

Security Minister: “Absolute commitment” to Jewish community safety

Security Minister Dan Jarvis today set out the government’s “absolute commitment” to the security of the UK Jewish community at a statement in the House of Commons. In response to a question, he said: “The hon. Lady’s final point about the Jewish community is a very important one. I give Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 months6 May, 2025 ago

MPs raise IRGC threat to Jewish community at Commons debate

At today’s Commons statement on counter-terrorism arrests of Iranian nationals over the weekend, two Labour MPs pushed the minister on the threat posed by the IRGC to the UK Jewish community. LFI chair Jon Pearce MP asked: “I thank the Minister for his statement and join him in thanking our Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 months6 May, 2025 ago

Labour MP pushes for action against Iranian terror proxies

At today’s statement from the Defence Secretary on US-UK air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia pushed the government for action against Iran’s support for terror proxies like the Houthis. He asked: “I welcome the Defence Secretary’s statement and add my thanks to our service personnel Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 months30 April, 2025 ago

Labour MPs push minister on hostages and West Bank terror

At today’s statement from the Middle East Minister on the visit to London of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mustafa, several Labour MPs raised the fate of the 59 remaining hostages and the current situation in the West Bank. Wirral West MP Matthew Patrick asked: “I welcome the Government’s commitment to Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 2 months29 April, 2025 ago

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Labour Friends of Israel
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