UK Arrests Eight Iranians in Embassy Plot; IRGC Designation Under Review, Asylum Hotels Searched

British counter-terrorism police arrested at least five Iranian nationals in coordinated raids across England, including west London, Rochdale, Manchester, Swindon, and Stockport, on May 3. The arrests were part of a pre-planned operation targeting an alleged plot to attack the Israeli Embassy in London. Another three Iranian men were detained in a separate operation in London. Authorities searched asylum hotels as part of the operation, and some suspects are believed to have entered the UK illegally, possibly via small boats. The men arrested are aged between 24 and 46. Four remain in custody while one has been released on bail. Security officials and former intelligence officers have linked the alleged plot to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), specifically suggesting involvement of Unit 840 or the Quds Force. The operation is described as one of the largest counter-terror actions in recent years. The Iranian government has categorically denied involvement, with the foreign minister stating Iran has not been informed through diplomatic channels. UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament that the threat posed by the Iranian regime, including the IRGC and Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, is under serious review. Legal mechanisms are being prepared to potentially designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, with a bill expected to be presented to Parliament in July. Iran was the first foreign power listed under the new foreign influence registration scheme. The alleged plot is reported to have considered methods such as abduction, shooting, or bombing. MI5 chief Ken McCallum has stated that 20 state-backed plots by Iran have been foiled in the UK since 2022. The Home Office has confirmed that the affected site, believed to be the Israeli Embassy, has been informed and is being supported by authorities.