Iran Designates MI6 Hostile Group and British Naval and Air Forces Terrorist Organizations

MIDDLE EAST — On November 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that it had designated the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) a hostile group and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force terrorist organizations under Iranian law.

The measures took effect upon publication of the statement that day, according to the ministry.

The ministry stated that the designations responded to British actions over the past year, including provision of military and logistical bases and facilities under British jurisdiction in support of what it termed the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, and the British government’s decision to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the State Threats Act 2026 on July 13.

Locations Affected

The designations concern institutions of the United Kingdom, a NATO ally of the United States, with no physical incident or coordinates reported.

Tehran, Iran, is the issuing location of the statement. Broader conflict activity in the last 48 hours has involved the Strait of Hormuz and statements referencing sites in Iran.

Latest Developments

• The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on November 1 designating MI6 a hostile group and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force terrorist organizations under specific Iranian laws, effective that day.

• On October 31, President Donald Trump stated that the United States had knocked out much of Iran’s military and nuclear program but still had to take care of one or two sites, including a suspected complex at Pickaxe Mountain, which he said could be done in 10 minutes.

• Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered on October 31 that Iranian forces respond immediately and without geographic limits to any U.S. or Israeli attacks, according to Iranian state media.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on October 31 that President Trump had not made a decision on resuming strikes against Iran.

Official Statements

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, November 1, 2026: “As of the publication of this statement (November 1, 2026), the British Foreign Intelligence Service (MI6) is designated as a ‘hostile group’ pursuant to Note 2 of Article 1 of the Law on ‘Intensification of Penalties for Espionage and Collaboration with the Zionist Regime and Hostile States Against National Security and Interests,’ and the provisions of this law shall apply to the British entity.”

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, November 1, 2026: “As of the publication of this statement (November 1, 2026), the British Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force shall be subject to the law on ‘Countermeasures against the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization by the United States of America,’ and, accordingly, these two entities are hereby designated as terrorist organizations.”

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, November 1, 2026: “It is evident that these measures have been adopted in accordance with the standards and criteria of international law and within the framework of the principle of reciprocity, so that the British government shall bear responsibility for the consequences thereof.”

• President Donald Trump, October 31, 2026: “We’ve knocked out their nuclear. We still have to take care of, I would say one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes.”

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, November 1, 2026 (Full Statement in English): “Strongly condemning the anti-Iranian policies and actions of the British government, which run contrary to the principles of the UN Charter and international law, particularly the principle of respect for national sovereignty and the prohibition of resorting to the unlawful measures against other states, the Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasizes the determination of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to adopt necessary measures to safeguard Iran’s security and national interests. Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the country’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and in response to the hostile actions taken by the British government against the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past year, announces the followings. These hostile actions include participation of the UK government in the US-Israeli war of aggression imposed against Iran, facilitated by providing access to the military and logistical bases and also facilities located within British jurisdiction as well as the British government’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) under the State Threats Act 2026 on July 13, 2026: 1. As of the publication of this statement (November 1, 2026), the British Foreign Intelligence Service (MI6) is designated as a “hostile group” pursuant to Note 2 of Article 1 of the Law on “Intensification of Penalties for Espionage and Collaboration with the Zionist Regime and Hostile States Against National Security and Interests,” and the provisions of this law shall apply to the British entity. 2. As of the publication of this statement (November 1, 2026), the British Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force shall be subject to the law on “Countermeasures against the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization by the United States of America,” and, accordingly, these two entities are hereby designated as terrorist organizations. It is evident that these measures have been adopted in accordance with the standards and criteria of international law and within the framework of the principle of reciprocity, so that the British government shall bear responsibility for the consequences thereof.”