Tehran classifies British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations and deems British intelligence 'hostile'

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Sunday announced that it had classified the British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as "terrorist organisations" and considered the British intelligence service a "hostile entity." The ministry said these measures were in response to what it described as hostile acts and British participation in a war against Iran.

The foreign ministry explained that the classification decision was taken based on the principle of reciprocity and under Iranian law, and that it was a response to alleged British participation in the war against Iran, as well as to London's decision to list the Revolutionary Guard under the Law on Combating State Security Threats.

The ministry's statement said the classification of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force takes effect from the date of the statement's publication, warning that the British government would be held responsible for the consequences of these measures.

The decision comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and London, after the British government in July 2026 announced subjecting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to legal measures under the Law on Combating State Security Threats, accusing entities linked to it of involvement in activities that threaten British security, including directing groups to carry out attacks in Europe.

Tehran then responded by summoning the British ambassador and warning him that the move would not go unanswered. Iran had previously, in February 2026, classified the naval and air forces of European Union member states as terrorist organisations, in response to the EU's listing of the Revolutionary Guard on its terrorism list.