Iranian operatives are reportedly living in the United Kingdom on legal visas, raising concerns over espionage and assassination activities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Roger Macmillan, former head of security at the Persian-language media outlet Iran International, some agents have infiltrated British society as respected business professionals and possess the ability to bring in skilled workers from abroad, potentially exploiting immigration routes.

Macmillan told media outlets that while some lower-level operatives may be arriving via small boats across the English Channel, the most effective IRGC agents reside in the UK under lawful residency permits. He emphasized that these individuals have been embedded in British society for decades, with some holding British citizenship. “They’re incredible business people,” Macmillan said, noting that many arrived at least 25 years ago.

The threat from Iranian operatives extends beyond covert presence to orchestrated assassination attempts and kidnapping conspiracies on UK soil, prompting the government this year to officially designate the IRGC as a proscribed organization. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the proscription after repeated plots that allegedly targeted British Jews, Iranian dissidents, and regime opponents in the UK.

Macmillan cautioned against focusing solely on irregular migrant crossings, which he described as mainly involving low-level recruits who are easily disposable. Instead, he argued that more scrutiny should be placed on visa categories such as skilled worker programs, student routes, and roles within the charity sector, which purportedly allow operatives greater access with less oversight. He called for immigration officials to coordinate with the UK’s Persian community to identify and counter IRGC agents operating under the radar.

Echoing these concerns, Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence and disruption, highlighted the gradual embedding of Iranian operatives in British society. He warned that their efforts to build networks and disseminate regime narratives amount to a soft-power campaign that complements and facilitates violent actions. Lord Walney emphasized that this tactic fosters conditions that heighten risks to targeted groups, including the Jewish community in the UK.

Authorities have been urged to investigate the financial sources supporting such operatives, with Macmillan suggesting that identifying IRGC-linked funding could lead to prosecutions under new legislation addressing state threats. The growing awareness of Iranian espionage activities in the UK underscores the complexity of addressing hybrid security threats that combine intelligence gathering, soft power influence, and direct attacks.