The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps have formally been designated under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.

Parliament has approved an order than was laid by the Home Secretary on Monday 13 July, to protect the safety of the UK.

Following designation, it is now a criminal offence to express support for these bodies or to assist or to accept or obtain a material benefit, such as payment, from any of these bodies. Anyone found guilty of these offences could face up to 14 years imprisonment.

Anyone committing other acts, such as sabotage, on behalf of these groups could be prosecuted for other offences under the National Security Act 2023, for which they could face life imprisonment.

These are the first groups to be designated under new powers.