Ofcom Pressured to Revoke License of Iranian-Linked TV Channel

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 11, 2026

Ofcom is under pressure to revoke LuaLua TV’s broadcast licence amid allegations that the London-based channel promotes propaganda for Iran’s IRGC and displays pro-Hezbollah content, despite Hezbollah being banned under UK terrorism laws. The issue raises concerns over national security and media regulation as authorities refer the case to Counter Terrorism Policing while critics accuse Ofcom of neglecting the rise in antisemitic propaganda.

Ofcom is facing calls to revoke the broadcast licence of LuaLua TV, a London-based television channel accused of serving as a propaganda outlet for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Critics contend that the channel has recently aired a substantial amount of pro-Hezbollah content, including social media posts commemorating Hassan Nasrallah, the former Hezbollah leader killed in an Israeli operation in September 2024.

The British government has proscribed Hezbollah under the Terrorism Act 2000, and authorities have referred LuaLua TV's activities to Counter Terrorism Policing, according to statements from political figures and law enforcement sources. Alicia Kearns, the shadow national security minister, characterized Ofcom’s decision not to revoke LuaLua’s licence as “nothing short of shameful,” accusing the regulator of displaying “a strong apathy towards the scourge of anti-Semitism” amid an increase in attacks against the Jewish community in the UK.

LuaLua TV is linked to the IRGC, which the US Treasury Department describes as the Ayatollah’s “terror army.” The IRGC has played a significant role in suppressing pro-democracy protests in Iran, where government forces reportedly killed more than 3,000 people during demonstrations in late 2023 and early 2024. The station has also frequently featured praise for senior commanders of Hamas and Hezbollah, and broadcast content supporting the resistance movements in Lebanon and Gaza, including sermons by former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The channel is part of the Islamic Radios and Television Union, an entity sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2020 for being controlled by the IRGC’s Quds Force. LuaLua TV’s website was shut down by the US Department of Justice in 2021.

A spokesperson from Counter Terrorism Policing stated that any allegations concerning potential terrorism or national security offenses are reviewed and handled as appropriate but declined to comment on specific investigations. Ofcom has not responded to requests for comment, and LuaLua TV was also contacted but did not provide a statement.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over media regulation and the challenges posed by broadcast outlets linked to foreign political and military interests operating within the UK.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.