The UK government has taken a significant step in combating state threats by outlawing three groups under new proscription-style powers.
Among the organisations listed is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, which has been linked to attacks on British soil.
The latest move means supporting or assisting the groups can lead to 14 years in prison, similar to rules banning the support of terror organisations.
Those who conduct acts of sabotage on behalf of the groups can face life imprisonment.
The Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR), also from Iran, and Russia's GRU Volunteer Corps, have also been outlawed under the new measures.
The IMCR claimed responsibility for several attacks in the UK, including an antisemitic arson incident in north-west London and an attack on a synagogue in Finchley.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called the use of proxy groups by foreign states "reprehensible" and said her government would "never let Britain be a playground for states who want to spread fear, division and violence on our streets."
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said anyone acting on behalf of those who threaten national security should be aware that there is no place for them in Britain, and that they will face the full force of the law.
The GRU Volunteer Corps is described as a formal group of volunteers and mercenary-style formations controlled by the GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency.
According to government assessments, it is involved in foreign power threat activity, including sabotage and other activity directed against the UK.
The designation of the IRGC as a state threat comes after years of campaigning, with Cooper committing to creating new laws in May 2025.
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said today's announcement was "welcome, but long overdue" and called for the government to urgently explain how the designation will be enforced and on what timetable.
