UK Places Iran on Highest Tier of Foreign Influence Scheme

Britain is set to classify the Iranian state, including its intelligence services and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), under the highest tier of its new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), as announced by Security Minister Dan Jarvis. This two-tier scheme aims to enhance the UK's resilience against covert foreign influence and requires registration of political influence activities directed by foreign powers. The 'enhanced' tier will empower senior ministers to demand more extensive registration from certain countries to safeguard national interests. Jarvis emphasized the need for this action, stating that Iran has become increasingly aggressive in undermining UK objectives. The scheme is expected to be operational by summer 2025, with training provided for police forces to identify state threat incidents related to foreign influence. This initiative marks a significant step in the UK's strategy to protect its political system from external interference.