UK Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Iran

The UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee warns in its July 2025 report that Iran poses a persistent, unpredictable, and multifaceted national security threat to the UK, including physical attacks on dissidents, nuclear proliferation risks, cyber and human espionage, and regional destabilization through proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas. Driven by regime survival, Iran leverages asymmetric tactics, maintains a high risk appetite, and uses proxy networks to target adversaries, viewing the UK as a secondary but growing threat. The Committee criticizes the UK government’s response as reactive and overly focused on the nuclear issue, urging a long-term, strategic approach with enhanced coordination, resourcing, and intelligence capabilities.

The following is an executive summary of the report. For the full report, click here.

The UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) warns that Iran poses a significant and multifaceted national security threat to the UK, its citizens, and its global interests. The regime’s primary objective is the survival and security of the Islamic Republic, shaped by deep historical vulnerability, a defensive yet assertive foreign policy, and a highly centralized clerical leadership under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Iran’s threat manifests through several key vectors:

• Physical Threats: Iran has attempted at least 15 assassinations or kidnappings of UK-based individuals since 2022, viewing dissidents abroad as legitimate targets and the UK as collateral. This threat is comparable to that posed by Russia.
• Nuclear Ambitions: Though Iran has not yet weaponized its nuclear program, it maintains the capability and intent to do so if regime survival is threatened. The threat has intensified since the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018.
• Espionage & Cyber Threats: Iran conducts aggressive cyber operations and espionage using both technical means and human agents. Though less sophisticated than Russia or China, its cyber operations are opportunistic and disruptive.
• Proxy Warfare & Terrorism: Through its “strategic depth” doctrine, Iran avoids direct conflict by operating via proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, Kata’ib Hezbollah, and criminal groups. These actors act with varying degrees of control from Iranian intelligence services, especially the IRGC.
• Political Interference: Iran attempts limited influence operations in the UK, focusing more on intimidation of dissidents and journalists (e.g., Iran International) than election interference. Cultural centers like the Islamic Centre of England may also propagate extremist ideology.
• Threats to UK Interests Abroad: Iran’s missile capabilities and proxy forces pose risks to UK assets and personnel in the Middle East, particularly amid regional escalations. Arbitrary detention of British-Iranian nationals remains a critical concern.

The ISC criticizes the UK government’s response as fragmented, crisis-driven, and overly focused on the nuclear issue at the expense of broader strategic planning. Coordination across departments is unclear, with too few National Security Council meetings on Iran. Resource allocations have been inconsistent, and critical gaps remain in Iranian expertise within the government.

The Committee urges a more coherent long-term strategy, improved intelligence coverage, sustained resourcing (especially for MI5), and serious consideration of proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It also highlights the crucial role of international intelligence partnerships in mitigating the Iranian threat, particularly with the U.S.

Source: “Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Iran,” ISC, (July 10, 2025).