July 10, 2025 — According to a new report issued by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, Britain faces a growing and unpredictable threat from Iran in terms of espionage, physical attacks, cyber operations, influence operations on British soil, as well as influence operations that directly threaten UK interests.
According to the committee’s findings, state-sponsored attacks targeting individuals in the UK have seen an exponential increase since 2022. “Physical threat from Iran on people living in the UK has increased significantly” the report states, emphasizing Iran remains a persistent and unpredictable adversary for Britain.
Espionage & Plotting | Britain has foiled over 20 assassination or kidnapping plots since January 2022–many targeting Iranian dissidents and critics living in Britain–which included assassinations or kidnapping plots being planned against Iranian dissidents and critics living here, according to media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Times, AP News.
Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe cautioned of an increase in Iranian state-backed operations, stating Iran “may have plans for attacking our country and we need to keep a very tight eye” Reddit +3 The Times +3 And Iranian International (+3).
One major disruption occurred in May when five Iranian nationals allegedly plotting an attack against Israel’s Embassy in London were arrested; these five Iranians are believed to be associated with Iran’s Unit 840 as per Wikipedia + The Times +2. For Influence & Cyber Campaigns
The committee highlighted Iran’s increasing intelligence and influence networks, including allegations of espionage against Britain as an area of focus for Iran espionage, according to The Guardian, Financial Times and Ground News sources.
NUFDI alleges a propaganda network linked to the Islamic Centre of England and other cultural fronts which promote pro-regime narratives among British communities, according to The Times (+1) and Wikipedia (+1).
Iran has responded by placing itself at the top of Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. For this, its government was placed at the top of three categories within FIRRS: Wikipedia; Times +3 and Guardian +3.
MI5 and the National Cyber Security Centre warn of Iran, while less technically advanced than Russia or China, still engaging in spear-phishing and credential stealing attacks against key individuals despite not seeking to cripple infrastructure; such attempts pose real intelligence and disinformation risks
The Times.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s National Security Strategy 2025 released in June identified Iran and Russia as major security threats on UK soil, prompting preparations for potential cyber influxes, sabotage operations and influence operations, while promising an increase of defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. (sources).
Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently expressed these fears in recent parliamentary sessions, labelling Iran a “sophisticated and persistent threat.” Meanwhile, cross-party voices have called for inclusion of the IRGC on terror-list registers due to numerous plots discovered against it (The Times).
Risk to Public & British Interests Though most plots disrupted so far have focused on Iranian dissidents, officials warn that public and political figures now appear at greater risk. The Intelligence and Security Committee highlights Iran’s use of criminal networks to conceal state involvement while noting the potential escalation in response to UK support of events like Israel’s actions in the Middle East.
Britain faces indirect threats overseas as well. UK assets in the Strait of Hormuz and British personnel in Iraq could come under surveillance or attack, according to Ken McCallum of MI5, reported The Times and Wall Street Journal respectively.
Looking Forward
The committee report recommends upgrades to counterespionage and cyberdefenses, enhanced intelligence cooperation with international allies, mandatory reporting requirements for entities under Iranian state control–especially those operating institutions or think tanks in the UK–as well as speedier sanctions on organisations associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
As evidenced by increasing and unpredictable threats against its internal cohesion, public safety, and international standing. With official warnings intensifying, policymakers stress the need for vigilant vigilance, unity and proactive investment in security infrastructure in order to secure our nation.