Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Biden diplomats press UK to halt designating IRGC 'terror group'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Telegraph
  • 23 Feb 2023 19:12
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The US government claims that the UK can play a major diplomatic role with Tehran, but this would be damaged if Iran's IRGC were to be outlawed, as per a new report by the Telegraph.

  • x
  • UK flag flutters near Big Ben in London. (AFP)
    UK flag flutters near Big Ben in London. (AFP)

The Telegraph revealed, in a new report, that Joe Biden's diplomats are urging the UK government not to publicly label Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps a "terrorist organization", despite the Home Office's support for the move.

Whitehall insiders were quoted by The Telegraph as saying that the US State Department has maintained that the UK can play an important role as interlocutors with Tehran, which the designation would undermine.

The Foreign Office is using this argument to oppose the Home Office's proposal to outlaw Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), as per the report.

The report detailed that "proscription would make it a criminal offense to belong to the IRGC, attend its meetings, carry its logo in public or encourage support of its activities."

The drive to outlaw the organization, first reported by The Telegraph, has been stymied by a debate in the Whitehall over the appropriateness of taking such a step.

The Home Office, where Suella Braverman is Home Secretary and Tom Tugendhat is Security Minister, has been pressing for proscription across Whitehall.

But, the Foreign Office, led by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, has warned against the measure and questioned whether it would achieve the desired results.

Related News

China to US: 'Farmers should not be made to pay price of trade war'

Trump's immigration crackdown pushes detentions to record highs

The Foreign Office made the point that the proscription is normally used against groups that are not vital to a country's state apparatus, which does not apply to Iran's IRGC that the Republic considers a part of its military power and armed forces. 

UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is likely to make the final decision, but it is unclear when that decision will be made. A ruling was expected in January but has been delayed due to the controversy.

Given the close US-UK ties on foreign policy, pressure from Biden's State Department - the American equivalent of the Foreign Office - complicates the debate in Whitehall, the report further argued.

According to some British assessments of the US situation, the State Department's stance is not shared by other sectors of Biden's government.

Some in favor of banning the IRGC have questioned the legitimacy of arguments advanced by the Foreign Office, citing the State Department.

A US State Department spokesperson said, as quoted by the Telegraph, “It is up to each country to determine what action in regards to the IRGC is applicable under their legal authorities and in their best interests.”

The spokesperson also highlighted that the US had “applauded the EU’s designations of IRGC officials and entities for their involvement in providing drones to Russia”.

Read more: IRGC arrests British spy network in Kerman Province

  • US
  • IRGC
  • UK
  • Iran

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS