The UK Foreign Office has summoned Iran's ambassador over 'unacceptable and inflammatory' social media comments, after the embassy encouraged British residents to join a 'martyrdom' programme, sparking fears for national security.
Embassy Post Under Investigation
Counter-terror police confirmed they are examining a social media post urging 'proud Iranian compatriots' to sign up for the 'Jan Fada' (sacrificing life) scheme. The message in Farsi on the embassy's official Telegram channel read: 'Let us all, to a man, give our bodies to be slain; For it is better than giving our country to the enemy.'
The post asked for 'all brave and noble children of Iran' with a 'desire for the people's defence of the land of Iran' to come forward in a 'display of solidarity, loyalty, and national zeal'.
Diplomatic Summons
Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer summoned Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi to the Foreign Office on Tuesday. A statement said the minister 'made clear that these actions and comments were completely unacceptable, and that the Embassy must cease any form of communications that could be interpreted as encouraging violence in the UK or internationally.'
The UK Government added: 'Iran's brutal and repressive regime will continue to be called out by the UK Government for its malign activities on UK soil, its reckless attacks against our allies in the Gulf, and its violence against its own people.'
Security Concerns
Counter-terror police are assessing the post to determine if further action is required. Australian police are investigating a similar recruitment drive from the Canberra embassy. Iranian security experts warned this is a 'significant' security threat.
Cameron Khansarnia, Chief of Staff for Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, said: 'This is a direct threat to Britain's National Security. It's a stark warning that further aggression is being organised on British soil.'
International Reaction
Israel's Foreign Ministry shared the Mail's article, stating: 'The Iranian regime is reportedly using its embassy in the UK to recruit terrorists. Diplomatic cover cannot be a shield for terror activity.'
The post directed sympathisers to the Iranian Foreign Ministry website to sign up via the Mikhak system, the official consular services platform used for passports, IDs, marriages, and property sales.
IRGC Proscription Pledge
Sir Keir Starmer pledged to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in the King's Speech last week, but has yet to introduce legislation despite growing evidence of Iran's involvement in attacks against the Jewish community and Iranian dissidents in the UK. The Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) claimed responsibility for an arson attack at a synagogue in Harrow last weekend, the fifth such attack in a week.
An Iranian Embassy spokesman said the 'Jan Fada' platform 'does not promote any form of hostility' and that claims to the contrary are 'unfounded'.
