In brief

• Iran's Foreign Ministry has designated Britain's navy and air force as terrorist organisations.
• MI6 has been classed as a hostile group, which Tehran says allows prosecution of people accused of cooperating with it.
• Iran says the decision responds to Britain's July sanctions on the IRGC and the use of British bases by US and Israeli forces.

Tehran's retaliation

Iran's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that Britain's navy and air force are now classed as terrorist organisations, and that the foreign intelligence service MI6 is treated as a hostile group (Odwet Iranu. Brytyjska armia uznana za organizację terrorystyczną – Wirtualna Polska) (Napięcie sięga zenitu. Teheran bierze na celownik brytyjski wywiad MI6 i wojsko – Bankier.pl). The state news agency IRNA said the decision was based on a legal assessment that Tehran presented as the basis for the step.

Trigger in London

The move follows Britain's decision in July to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under sanctions. Iranian authorities accuse London of taking an active part in the ongoing war by allowing its military bases to be used by American and Israeli forces.

What the designation means

According to Iranian reporting, the status of hostile group for MI6 gives Iranian authorities grounds to prosecute people accused of cooperating with British intelligence. The terrorist label for the navy and air force is presented as a diplomatic and legal measure aimed at the British state, not as a step against individual British citizens.

Context

The announcement comes as tensions between Tehran and London rise over the war in the region. Iran has used this kind of legal designation before against foreign armed forces and intelligence agencies it considers adversaries, and the step signals that diplomatic channels between the two countries are under strain.