Home Office accused of failing to close Iran’s ‘London office’
Suella Braverman has been accused of failing to shut down the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s “London office” amid a row over proscribing the group.
It comes amid a Cabinet split over whether to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organisation, which has led to deadlock in Whitehall.
Mrs Braverman, the Home Secretary, has been pushing for the IRGC to be declared a terrorist group, with the Foreign Office accused of blocking the move in order to maintain “access”.
But The Telegraph understands there is some consternation among senior government officials that Ms Braverman has not done more to crack down on the Islamic Centre of England, which has been described as the IRGC’s “London office”.
Based in the north-west London suburb of Maida Vale, the Islamic Centre of England is accused of being an outpost of the Iranian regime. Its director is appointed directly by Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader.
It first sparked concern in January 2020, when it held a candlelit vigil for Qassim Soleimani of the IRGC, a UK-designated terrorist who was assassinated in a US drone strike. During the vigil, Soleimani was prized as a “dedicated soldier of Islam” and a “great martyr”.
It first sparked concern in January 2020, when it held a candlelit vigil for Qassim Soleimani of the IRGC, a UK-designated terrorist who was assassinated in a US drone strike. During the vigil, Soleimani was prized as a “dedicated soldier of Islam” and a “great martyr”.
