Iran has designated Britain’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations, its Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday 1 November 2026, in a sharp escalation of tensions between Tehran and London.
The designations take effect from publication of the ministry’s statement, it said.
MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service, was separately classified as a “hostile group” under Iran’s law on tougher penalties for espionage and cooperation with hostile states.
The ministry said the steps were authorised by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and were reciprocal. Britain announced on 13 July 2026 that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would be designated under the new National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.
The naval and air designations were made under Iran’s law on countermeasures against the United States’ designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.
Tehran also accused Britain of supporting US and Israeli military operations against Iran earlier this year, including by allowing the use of facilities on British territory, and warned Britain would bear responsibility for consequences.
The statement did not spell out practical or operational consequences for British ships or aircraft, and no UK government response had been published at the time of the reports.
Sources: Iranian Foreign Ministry statement (1 November 2026), as reported by Tasnim and Press TV; UK government announcement of 13 July 2026.
