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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.  

Foreign Secretary sets our UK Government’s response to Hezbollah’s attack on the Golan Heights

At Tuesday’s statement in the House of Commons on the situation in the Lebanon, Foreign Secretary David Lammy set out the UK’s response to Hezbollah’s devastating attack on the Golan Heights.   Lammy stated that “The Government are unequivocal in condemning this horrific attack and calling on Hezbollah to cease its Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 10 months2 August, 2024 ago

Threat of escalation rises following Hezbollah attacks in Golan Heights

The deaths of 12 children in the Golan Heights at the weekend in a Hezbollah rocket attack has raised fears of an escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed terror group on the northern border. Hezbollah has been ramping up its attacks on Israel since the 7 October Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 10 months30 July, 2024 ago

LFI Lords chair urges IRGC proscription in King’s Speech debate

At today’s House of Lords debate on foreign affairs and defence in the King’s Speech, LFI chair in the House of Lords Baroness Ramsay used her contribution to support the government’s commitment to a two-state solution and to call for tougher action against the Iranian regime. She said: “My Lords, Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 11 months25 July, 2024 ago

Prime Minister sets out support for “safe and secure Israel” and hostage release

At today’s statement on recent NATO and European Political Community meetings, the Prime Minister set out the government’s support for a “safe and secure Israel”, a two-state solution, and the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. He also raised the “malign influence of Iran”, including Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 11 months22 July, 2024 ago

Foreign Secretary sets out support for Israel and Gaza’s future without Hamas

At today’s statement on the situation in the Middle East, Foreign Secretary David Lammy set out the government’s support for Israel’s current position, as well as making a clear distinction between Israel and Hamas in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He said: “There are those in this House who, like Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 11 months19 July, 2024 ago

LFI parliamentarians make the case for proscribing the IRGC

At today’s Westminster Hall Debate on countering Iran’s hostile activities, two LFI parliamentarians set out the case for the government to take a stronger stand against the Iranian regime, and particularly its ideological terror army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). LFI parliamentary supporter Margaret Hodge MP, who co-sponsored the Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 year8 May, 2024 ago

PLP chair pushes for debate on IRGC proscription

At today’s Business Questions, Parliamentary Labour Party chair John Cryer MP asked the Leader of the House of Commons for a statement from the government regarding its strategy towards the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). He said: “It is widely acknowledged, in this Chamber and elsewhere, that Iran is run Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 year25 April, 2024 ago

Analysis: Unprecedented Iranian attacks on Israel

Unprecedented Iranian attacks on Israel In recent decades, Iran has embarked on an aggressive policy of expanding its influence across the Middle East, with a key aim of encircling Israel. This has involved the funding of proxies, armed militias and terrorist groups across the region, Iran’s “axis of resistance”. Iran Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 year18 April, 2024 ago

LFI parliamentarians sign cross-party letter calling for proscription of IRGC

134 parliamentarians, including 14 Labour MPs and peers, have today signed a cross-party letter to the Prime Minister calling for the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Iran’s ideological terror army.The letter, drafted by the UK-Israel All-Party Parliamentary Group, was sent by LFI vice-chair and UK-Israel APPG co-chair Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 year17 April, 2024 ago

Starmer urges Middle East collective security and IRGC proscription

Responding to today’s statement from the prime minister following Iran’s drone and missile attack against Israel over the weekend, Labour leader Keir Starmer set out Labour’s response. In his comments, he said: “The combined defensive action this weekend was a success and, because of that, lives were saved. As a Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 year15 April, 2024 ago

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper: Time to proscribe the IRGC

At today’s Home Office Questions, shadow home secretary and LFI parliamentary supporter Yvette Cooper MP reiterated Labour’s support for proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation following the week’s Iranian attacks against Israel, which were orchestrated by the IRGC. She said: “We strongly condemn Iran’s Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 year15 April, 2024 ago

LFI vice-chair Diana Johnson pushes for IRGC proscription at UQ

At Tuesday’s Urgent Question on the situation in Israel and Gaza, LFI vice-chair Diana Johnson MP asked for an update on the government’s plans to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s terror army that is a crucial conduit with Hamas and Hezbollah. She asked: “We all know that behind Read more…

By lfiIsrael, 1 year19 March, 2024 ago

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