UK Parliament’s Intelligence Committee Warns of Rising Iranian Threat in Landmark Report

10 July 2025 | London
The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) has published a landmark report titled “Iran”, revealing a comprehensive and urgent assessment of the threats posed by the Iranian regime to the United Kingdom and its interests. Based on an extensive two-year inquiry that concluded in August 2023, the report paints a sobering picture of Iran’s broad and increasingly aggressive activities against the UK, spanning espionage, cyberattacks, physical threats, and interference operations.

A Persistent and Unpredictable Threat

Committee Chairman Lord Beamish described Iran as posing a “wide-ranging, persistent and unpredictable threat” to the UK and its nationals. The report highlights Tehran’s extensive use of asymmetric tactics and proxy actors—including criminal networks, terrorist groups, and private cyber actors—to advance its goals while maintaining plausible deniability.

Among the most pressing concerns is the sharp escalation in threats against Iranian dissidents and regime critics living in the UK. Since 2022, there have been at least 15 known attempts by Iranian operatives to kidnap or assassinate UK-based individuals, including British citizens. The ISC compared this threat level to that posed by Russia, emphasizing that such attacks represent an assault on UK sovereignty.

Nuclear Ambiguity and Espionage

The report also provides critical insights into Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While Iran had not yet built a nuclear weapon as of August 2023, it was maintaining the option to do so as the “ultimate security guarantee.” The Committee calls for urgent international de-escalation efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation in the region.

In terms of espionage, the ISC warns that Iran is actively targeting the UK through both human and cyber means. Although less technologically advanced than Russia or China, Iran compensates with a high appetite for risk and aggressive tactics. Its targets include UK academia, defense sectors, and individuals or groups critical of the regime.

Cyber Threats and National Vulnerability

Iran’s cyber operations, while not yet at the scale of global cyber powers, are deemed “significant” and potentially destructive. The ISC warns that the UK’s petrochemical, utilities, and finance sectors are at risk, and that current cybersecurity resilience may not suffice. It urges the government to both improve cyber defenses and increase the deterrent cost to Iran of launching such attacks.

Interference and Alliances

The report outlines Tehran’s use of intimidation tactics against Iranian dissidents and media outlets in the UK, particularly Iran International. These operations, while not yet significantly influencing public opinion or elections, have impacted the Iranian diaspora.

Iran’s growing alliances with Russia and China—driven by strategic necessity rather than ideological alignment—further complicate the threat landscape. Tehran’s support for groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and even elements of Al-Qaeda increases its regional influence and capacity to disrupt UK and allied interests.

Critique of UK Government Policy

A major theme in the report is criticism of the UK government’s reactive and short-termist approach to Iran. The Committee argues that crisis management has replaced strategic planning, with insufficient resources, a lack of Iran-specific expertise, and overcomplicated governance structures. It calls for a comprehensive, long-term policy that includes clear accountability and tailored responses to Iranian threats.

Notably, the report criticizes the government’s failure to reform the Official Secrets Act 1989 and urges reconsideration of sanctions strategy. It also recommends examining the legal feasibility of proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which could have diplomatic and practical ramifications given the group’s entrenchment in Iran’s government.

Recommendations and Government Response

Although some of the Committee’s recommendations have already prompted government action—such as the designation of Iran under the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme and the creation of a new proscription power—gaps remain. The report stresses that further action is essential to safeguard UK national security.

The report’s publication was delayed due to the 2024 general election but remains relevant in light of evolving tensions in the Middle East and continued Iranian provocations.

Editor’s Note:
This report was compiled by the previous ISC, chaired by Sir Julian Lewis MP, and reviewed by the current Committee under Lord Beamish. It reflects evidence collected between August 2021 and August 2023, prior to the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent regional escalations.