Iran designates RAF and Royal Navy as terrorist organisations amid UK-Iran tensions

Iran has designated the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy as terrorist organisations and warned that the United Kingdom will bear responsibility for the consequences. Tehran also classified MI6 as a hostile group, in a move it said was a response to British actions against the Islamic Republic. The announcement adds a new diplomatic and security flashpoint to already strained relations between the two countries.

According to Iran's Foreign Ministry, the decision was taken in response to what it described as hostile British actions over the past year. The ministry linked the move to the UK's July 13, 2026 decision to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the State Threats Act 2026. It also referred to British involvement in the wider conflict in the Middle East, including the provision of military and logistical bases and facilities in territories under British jurisdiction.

The ministry said the measures were being taken under the principle of reciprocity and within the framework of international law. It warned that the British government would be responsible for the consequences of the designation. The statement also condemned what it called anti-Iranian policies by London, making clear that Tehran sees the move as retaliation rather than a standalone legal step.

The decision matters because it formalises a sharp escalation in state-to-state rhetoric between Iran and the UK at a time of wider regional conflict. The Royal Air Force has been involved in shooting down Iranian drones since the outbreak of war in the Middle East earlier this year, according to the supplied material. The same row says the RAF has intercepted more than 100 unmanned aircraft targeting British forces and coalition bases, underlining the operational dimension of the dispute.

The announcement also comes against a backdrop of broader military tension involving British assets in the region. The supplied material says Iran has fired missiles at British military bases at Diego Garcia and in Cyprus, while the UK deployed HMS Dragon to the Middle East in March to help safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. In July, the UK also announced new powers to ban support for the IRGC, which it described as linked to threats and intimidation in Britain.

What remains unclear is whether the new Iranian designation will lead to any immediate practical measures beyond the political statement itself. It is also not clear how London will respond, or whether the move will affect military coordination, maritime security, or diplomatic contacts. The next developments to watch are any formal UK reaction, any further Iranian statements, and whether the dispute feeds into wider regional military activity.

Iran's supreme leader has ordered the country's military chiefs to respond to any attack with what he described as an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response. The instruction, published on his account, comes as tensions remain elevated around the Strait of Hormuz after four oil tankers were hit by mines and caught fire while travelling through the waterway. The order signals that any future strike on Iran could trigger a wider regional response rather than a limited military reply.

The message said Iran should meet any military or terrorist attack with an unrestrained response and that its armed forces should broaden the range of targets they are prepared to strike. It also said military planners should update a so-called targets bank so that tangible and intangible assets linked to the United States and Israel would be within reach. The statement further expressed appreciation for the steadfastness of the Resistance Front in various countries, and referred to the idea of a unity of fronts as a strategic factor in shaping the security order in West Asia.

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The order is significant because it suggests a possible shift away from a mainly military target set toward a broader range of assets. It also raises the risk that any new confrontation could spread beyond Iran's borders and affect multiple theatres at once. Gulf states, which were attacked by Iran earlier in the year, have been urging Washington not to restart conflict with Tehran, reflecting concern that the region could again become a direct arena for escalation.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most sensitive shipping routes, and any threat there quickly draws attention from energy markets and governments far beyond the Gulf. The reported mine strikes on tankers underline how maritime security in the area can become entangled with wider political and military tensions. For countries that depend on the passage of oil and gas through the strait, even limited attacks can have consequences for trade, insurance costs and regional stability.

The order also matters because it appears to widen the scope of possible retaliation to include assets associated with the United States and Israel. That language is likely to be read in regional capitals as a warning that future conflict could involve not only direct military exchanges but also broader pressure through allied groups and proxy networks. The reference to the Resistance Front and to the unity of fronts points to a strategy that links different arenas of confrontation rather than treating them separately.

The row places the announcement in the context of the wider Iran war and says the supreme leader has not been seen since he was appointed at the beginning of that conflict. It also says the military has been told to prepare for a broader set of targets, including satellite organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Those references suggest the order is part of a larger effort to signal deterrence while keeping open the option of coordinated action across the region.

What remains unclear is how quickly these instructions would be translated into operational planning, and whether they are intended mainly as a deterrent message or as preparation for imminent conflict. It is also not clear whether the reported tanker attacks were directly linked to the new order or simply part of the same period of heightened tension. The next developments to watch are any further official statements from Tehran, any response from Washington or Israel, and whether shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is affected again.

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