The Iranian regime has been reportedly recruiting British Muslims, particularly those on pilgrimages in the Middle East, to gather intelligence on Jews and dissidents in the UK, with potential implications for security on British soil, according to revelations made by the Daily Mail.
Recruiters allegedly affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approach British Shias visiting religious sites in Iran and Iraq, tasking them with gathering information on prominent British Jews, synagogues, and British-based Iranian dissidents. The fear is that such information may be exploited for potential attacks within the UK.
Israeli officials have raised concerns about the heightened threat level following a massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, leading to an increase in warnings issued to the UK regarding potential attacks orchestrated by Iranians or their proxies.
The recruitment tactics reportedly target British Shias from Pakistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, particularly during the Arbaeen festival in Karbala, Iraq, which draws millions of pilgrims annually. While British Iranians, who are often secular and critical of the Iranian regime, are not the primary focus of recruitment efforts, British Shias are considered viable candidates due to their ties to religious communities in Iran.
It’s estimated that up to 400,000 Muslims in the UK belong to the Shia sect, which Iran considers itself the protector of worldwide. Concerns have been raised about the potential infiltration of British universities by Iranian spies posing as international students on state scholarships.
The tactics employed by the IRGC reportedly involve the use of organized criminal networks based in the UK for carrying out assassinations or kidnappings, utilizing information gathered by British spies. This approach is favored due to the challenges Iranian spies face operating directly on British soil.
Recent incidents, such as the targeting of Farsi-language channel Iran International in London and attempted assassinations of British-based Iranian dissidents, underscore the seriousness of the threat posed by Iranian intelligence activities in the UK. The involvement of Iranian-linked individuals in criminal activities, including spying and terrorism, has prompted sanctions by the UK government.
The Iranian regime’s attempts to infiltrate and influence institutions in the UK, including educational and religious centers, have also raised alarm bells. Links between institutions like the Islamic College in London and entities sanctioned by the US Treasury for their ties to the IRGC highlight the extent of Iran’s efforts to exert influence abroad.
Experts emphasize the gravity of the threat posed by the IRGC’s activities in the UK and urge vigilance among British Iranians traveling to Iran. They underscore the need for robust countermeasures to address the growing menace of Iranian espionage and terrorism on British soil.
In response to inquiries, the Home Office reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to confronting threats posed by foreign entities, pledging to continually assess and address potential security risks.
This article is based on a report from DailyMail.
