UK Tightens Noose on State-Backed Proxy Organizations with Iran in Sights

The UK government has introduced new legislation aimed at cracking down on state-backed proxy organizations, specifically targeting Iran.

The National Security (State Threats) Bill gives authorities the power to designate foreign organizations acting on behalf of hostile states and impose serious criminal penalties on those who support them.

Designating a specific entity as a proxy could land someone in prison for up to 14 years if they provide financial or material assistance, or operational backing.

The legislation creates a formal mechanism for the UK to label foreign organizations as proxies of hostile states, with plans to designate up to ten Iran-backed groups within the first year.

This shift towards a more proactive framework targets hostile state operations and nuclear non-compliance, building on existing sanctions against over 550 individuals and entities under the Iran sanctions regime since 2023.