Suspected Iranian intelligence operatives have been intercepted while attempting to enter the United Kingdom by crossing the English Channel on small migrant boats.
According to a report by The Telegraph, individuals linked to Iranian intelligence have attempted to exploit migrant smuggling routes into Britain. Iranian officials have facilitated the passage of some migrants from Calais, France, to the UK in exchange for a future “favor” once they are settled in Britain.
British authorities have reportedly used drones and artificial intelligence-powered surveillance towers to monitor vessels crossing the English Channel and identify individuals believed to have ties to Iran. Some human trafficking routes stretching from the Middle East to the Channel are “owned” by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with Iranian-run smuggling networks transporting migrants across Europe before attempting to move them into the UK.
The Telegraph further reported that “revolutionary people” have been positioned in London through these networks, under the operation of Iran’s Unit 700, the logistics branch of the IRGC’s foreign operations division.
“Of course, don’t forget that our armed forces have influence and run the [smuggling] routes in some cases if they want,” an Iranian official said. “At the moment we have people right there in London, revolutionary people who care about the world and the lives of children – they wait for us to tell them what to do. We have not done that yet, but we can easily make London unsafe for you if we want to.”
“These smuggling routes are more important and useful than the missiles for us – we do not need a missile to target London, it’s easier than that,” the official added.
The revelations follow Iran saying it would attack RAF Fairford after new Prime Minister Andy Burnham renewed permission for the US to use British bases to launch air strikes against Iran.
Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns commented that “The Government needs to face facts: the IRGC is exploiting the small boats crisis to put its operatives on British streets."
“We need an urgent taskforce to root out Iranian agents among those arriving and who’ve arrived on our shores, designation of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security under hostile state legislation, and emergency powers to shut down IRGC cut-outs like the Islamic Centre of England,” Kearns added. “Tehran is openly threatening Britain and we have a Prime Minister silent on our national security – our people deserve answers, action and leadership.”
According to a report by The Telegraph, individuals linked to Iranian intelligence have attempted to exploit migrant smuggling routes into Britain. Iranian officials have facilitated the passage of some migrants from Calais, France, to the UK in exchange for a future “favor” once they are settled in Britain.
British authorities have reportedly used drones and artificial intelligence-powered surveillance towers to monitor vessels crossing the English Channel and identify individuals believed to have ties to Iran. Some human trafficking routes stretching from the Middle East to the Channel are “owned” by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with Iranian-run smuggling networks transporting migrants across Europe before attempting to move them into the UK.
The Telegraph further reported that “revolutionary people” have been positioned in London through these networks, under the operation of Iran’s Unit 700, the logistics branch of the IRGC’s foreign operations division.
“Of course, don’t forget that our armed forces have influence and run the [smuggling] routes in some cases if they want,” an Iranian official said. “At the moment we have people right there in London, revolutionary people who care about the world and the lives of children – they wait for us to tell them what to do. We have not done that yet, but we can easily make London unsafe for you if we want to.”
“These smuggling routes are more important and useful than the missiles for us – we do not need a missile to target London, it’s easier than that,” the official added.
The revelations follow Iran saying it would attack RAF Fairford after new Prime Minister Andy Burnham renewed permission for the US to use British bases to launch air strikes against Iran.
Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns commented that “The Government needs to face facts: the IRGC is exploiting the small boats crisis to put its operatives on British streets."
“We need an urgent taskforce to root out Iranian agents among those arriving and who’ve arrived on our shores, designation of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security under hostile state legislation, and emergency powers to shut down IRGC cut-outs like the Islamic Centre of England,” Kearns added. “Tehran is openly threatening Britain and we have a Prime Minister silent on our national security – our people deserve answers, action and leadership.”
