Peers vote to push MPs to ban Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Lords back Tory amendment by 186 votes to 144
Ministers will face renewed pressure to ban the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the UK, after peers voted in favour of adding the move to the Government’s crime and policing laws.
The vote is the latest chapter in a long-running debate over whether the military group should be officially designated as a terrorist organisation.
In opposition, Labour called for the proscription, but now in Government, has declined to do so.
A Conservative-led amendment in the House of Lords passed on Thursday, which will go to MPs to be debated.
Conservative Home Office minister Lord Davies of Gower acknowledged that his party did not ban the group when in power, but said the situation had now changed.
He said: “The international situation is radically different now from what it was when we left Government, and before this war even started, it was clear that the Iranian regime is ramping up its aggressive activities.
“At home it wilfully oversaw the murder of over 40,000 protesters. Overseas it continued to extend its influence through its backing of terrorist cells. In the UK alone, in 2025, security services tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots.
“This threat has only been exacerbated following the outbreak of war.”
He added: “Proscribing the IRGC would not only give the police more powers to counteract these actions, but send a signal that we do not bow to pressure from oppressive and authoritarian regimes.”
Liberal Democrats justice spokesperson Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames agreed and said: “We can see no sustainable argument why the Labour Government should refuse to proscribe the IRGC and associated organisations.”
Home Office minister Lord Hanson of Flint said the Government does not comment on organisations being considered for proscription.
He said members of the IRGC have individually been sanctioned by the UK, and the Government is “holding the Iranian regime to account”.
He added: “With due respect to Lord Davies and Lord Marks, they have not had the intelligence in front of them from the intelligence services on these issues.
“We’re making judgments as a Government, and we’re not going to comment on a running commentary on where we proscribe and when we proscribe, because that is a very dangerous position to take.”
The House of Lords voted to back the amendment by 186 votes to 144, majority 42. It will now go back to the Commons to be voted on by MPs, as to whether it will form part of the final Crime and Policing Bill.
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