Iran, Taliban Seek Access to Massive UK Data Leak

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has requested access from the Taliban to a leaked UK Ministry of Defence database reportedly containing details on up to 100,000 individuals, including MI6 operatives, British special forces, and Afghans who helped British forces or applied for UK asylum. The leak, which occurred in 2022, has exposed those named to serious risks, including torture or death. Iranian officials seek to use the information as leverage in upcoming nuclear negotiations, while the Taliban has formed special units to target and pressure Kabul authorities to arrest those listed. The UK government initially sought to suppress details of the breach via court injunctions but later abandoned these efforts, unveiling a mass evacuation plan for at-risk Afghans. Some individuals have already been deported from Iran to Afghanistan. The exposure has raised alarm among UK officials and international human rights organizations regarding both the safety of those named and the implications of Iran-Taliban cooperation.