Iran designates UK's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as 'terrorist organizations'

Iran has designated the United Kingdom's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as "terrorist organizations". Anadolu Agency, TASS and Infobae reported the move. According to TASS and Infobae, the designation was issued by Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Infobae, which cites EFE, the decision was made on Sunday, 1 November 2026. Infobae also reports that Iran classified the British foreign intelligence service, MI6, as a "hostile group". Only Infobae reports the MI6 classification.

Infobae says the ministry's statement described the measures as adopted under international law and the principle of reciprocity. The statement added that the British government would be responsible for the consequences. It also referred to a British decision in July to classify Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a "threat to national security", according to Infobae.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any response from the UK government. They do not describe the legal or practical effects of the designations, such as sanctions or enforcement measures.

Context

According to Infobae, relations between Tehran and London have become more strained in recent weeks. This followed a UK assessment linking an alleged plot against the Fairford air base to Iran.

Infobae also reports that Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, met senior military commanders on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Several reports said US President Donald Trump could order strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections, scheduled for Tuesday, according to Infobae. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not identify those reports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the close of a G20 foreign ministers' meeting, did not confirm planned strikes or give a date for a decision.

What is disputed

The UK and Iran give opposing accounts of the alleged Fairford plot. Iran also denies that nuclear activities take place at an underground site that Trump called "Pickaxe Mountain".

What each side says

• Iran's Foreign Ministry, according to Infobae, says the designations respond to "hostile actions" by London over the past year. It cites what it described as UK participation in the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, and UK access given to US forces at bases and facilities. It says MI6 was listed over its "collaboration with the Zionist regime and hostile countries against national security and interests". It has called the Fairford accusations "a despicable conspiracy to boost the anti-Iranian campaign".
• The UK, as reported by Infobae, assessed it "highly likely" that the alleged Fairford plot was coordinated from Iran and directly pointed to the Revolutionary Guard.
• Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out talks with Washington and said there are no plans to meet US officials. Infobae reports he made the remarks to Al Jazeera, as reproduced by Iran's official agency IRNA.
• Mojtaba Khamenei ordered an "immediate, forceful response without geographic restrictions" to any US or Israeli attack, in a communiqué on his website, according to Infobae.
• Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, said new operations were not necessary because Washington had already weakened Iran's military and nuclear program. He said US Central Command could deal with "Pickaxe Mountain", according to Infobae.
• Marco Rubio said the president retains various options on Iran and has not made a decision.

Statements cited by Infobae appear in Spanish translation; the reports do not include the original wording.

Analysis

The designations mark a further step in a dispute between Tehran and London, and Iran frames them as a response to British actions. Iran presents the measure as reciprocal to the UK's July decision on the Revolutionary Guard. Its practical weight remains unclear, because the reports do not describe any enforcement measures. Possible paths include a formal British response, further reciprocal listings, or limited practical effect. Separately, statements from Washington and Tehran on possible strikes remain conditional and unconfirmed. Much of the detail rests on a single origin, Infobae citing EFE, so further confirmation and an official UK reaction would clarify the situation.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.