Starmer urged to expel Iran's ambassador immediately over RAF base threat

UK MORNING BRIEFING Today, calls intensify for the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador following threats against UK military bases. Senior MPs demand immediate action, urging Keir Starmer to respond decisively to escalating tensions involving Iran.

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Starmer urged to expel Iran's ambassador immediately over RAF base threat

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IRANIAN THREAT
MPs are urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to expel Iranian Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi after he threatened UK military bases amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
UK POLITICS
Keir Starmer faces intensified pressure from MPs, including Bob Blackman and Luke Akehurst, to expel Iranian ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi following threats to British military sites.
IRANIAN AMBASSADOR CONTROVERSY
MPs including Bob Blackman and Luke Akehurst are pressing Keir Starmer to expel Iranian ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi over recent threats to UK military sites.

What we know so far

Calls for the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, intensified after he threatened potential strikes on British military bases. Senior MPs from various parties are urging Keir Starmer to take immediate action following Mousavi’s comments regarding Iran’s possible targeting of UK sites linked to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Cameron Khansarinia, chief of staff to exiled Iranian prince Reza Pahlavi, has demanded that the Prime Minister remove Mousavi and proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. He described the Iranian regime as a “direct threat” to British national security, emphasising the seriousness of Mousavi’s remarks.

The situation follows similar actions taken by other nations; for instance, Lebanon expelled its Iranian top diplomat amid escalating tensions, and Australia previously removed its ambassador over related issues. Critics, including Conservative MPs like Bob Blackman and Greg Stafford, argue that the UK’s response is inadequate, asserting that Mousavi’s position in London should be untenable due to his threats against British interests.

Starmer’s government has faced mounting pressure to reassess its diplomatic stance towards Iran, particularly as the IRGC remains unproscribed in the UK despite international designations. Both Blackman and Stafford have insisted that any dialogue with Iran must shift following these recent threats, urging a firm response from Downing Street.

The Foreign Office has previously summoned Mousavi for discussions, but no decisive action has been taken to date. As tensions rise, the possibility of expulsion remains a pressing issue for the UK government.

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‘Hesitant’ Keir Starmer told to expel Iran’s ambassador ‘at once’ after RAF base threat | News UK

Seyed Ali Mousavi is still serving as Iran’s ambassador despite threats against the UK (Picture: PA / GETTY)

Prince Reza Palavi’s closest aide and senior MPs have called on Keir Starmer to expel the Iranian ambassador in London after he threatened to attack British bases.

MPs from across the political divide told WTX that Seyed Ali Mousavi should be kicked out of the UK after he signalled Iran could target UK military sites linked to the war in the Middle East.

Cameron Khansarinia, who is the chief of staff to the exiled prince of Iran, demanded the prime minister expel Tehran’s representative ‘at once’ and proscribe the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group.

Lebanon’s government has already expelled their Iranian top diplomat since the outbreak of the war, while Australia kicked out its ambassador last summer over antisemitic attacks linked to Iran.

Iranian Ambassador to the UK Seyed Ali Mousavi arrives at BBC Broadcasting House in London, to appear on the BBC One current affairs programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Picture date: Sunday June 22, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Seyed Ali Mousavi said Tehran was considering striking British bases(Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

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Keir Starmer has not taken the same action, despite condemning Iran’s outrageous strikes across the Gulf, including against RAF bases.

The final straw for critics of the Regime came this week when Mousavi said Tehran is considering strikes on British military sites because US bases are using them in the Middle East.

In response, Mr Khansarinia said: ‘The Islamic Regime is a direct threat to Britain’s national security… Its Ambassador has even threatened to attack UK military bases.’

The top aide to Iran’s leading opposition figure, Reza Pahlavi, continued: ‘Its terrorist ambassador should not have the pleasure of serving at the Court of St. James and should be expelled at once.’

These calls were echoed by Bob Blackman MP, the chair of the influential 1922 committee of Tory MPs, and high-profile Iran hawk.

The Harrow East MP WTX: ‘An ambassador who stands in London and tells us that British bases and British lives are legitimate targets has no place in this country.

‘He should be expelled immediately. The Iranian embassy should be shut down, every IRGC agent and intelligence operative on British soil shown the door, and the IRGC proscribed as a terrorist organisation without further delay.’

The UK has expelled the Iranian ambassador before.

Iranian political activist Reza Pahlavi greets the crowd during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas, on March 28, 2026. American conservatives converge on Texas this week for what organizers bill as their largest and most influential gathering, with the Iran war and fears of a punishing midterm election cycle heightening the stakes. (Photo by Leandro Lozada / AFP via Getty Images)
Pahlavi has become Iran’s leading opposition figure and has repeatedly called for Keir Starmer to proscribe the IRGC (Picture: Leandro Lozada / AFP via Getty Images)

The Coalition government kicked out all of Iran’s diplomats after the storming of the British embassy in Tehran in 2011, before the Islamic Republic returned to London in 2015.

Labour MP Luke Akehurst piled more pressure on the Prime Minister to do the same again with Mousavi, questioning Sir Keir’s response to Iran’s ongoing strikes in the Middle East.

The North Durham MP told WTX: ‘It doesn’t make sense that we have normal diplomatic relations with Iran, a state that is attacking our allies in the Gulf, blockading our oil supply in the strait of Hormuz, sponsoring terrorism, and slaughtering tens of thousands of democracy protesters.

‘I would favour expelling their Ambassador and withdrawing our own diplomats from Iran.’

The Foreign Office has twice summoned Iran’s ambassador in London for a dressing down since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

However Conservative MP Greg Stafford said the situation with Iran had ‘now moved beyond half-measures’.

The Farnham and Bordon MP told WTX: ‘Recent remarks by Iran’s Ambassador are utterly unacceptable. Any suggestion that the United Kingdom could be targeted, in any form, amounts to a direct threat and must be treated as such.

‘Yet the Labour Government’s response has been hesitant and wholly inadequate…The Iranian Ambassador should be expelled without delay.’

Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces the results of the second ballot round in the Conservative Party leadership contest, in the Houses of Parliament, London. Picture date: Tuesday September 10, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Tories. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Bob Blackman said the Iranian ambassador had ‘no place in this country’ (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Sir Keir once again faced calls to clamp down on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) over claims the group is involved in spreading violence in the UK.

The Prime Minister has so far refused to proscribe the IRGC, which would make it illegal to support the group in the UK, despite the fact the European Union, the US and Canada have done so.

Mr Khansarinia said: ‘The Islamic Regime has a network of operatives and terror cells across the UK, threatening the lives of UK citizens.

He went on: ‘it is an abdication of moral responsibility and a shame that the Prime Minister has not sanctioned the IRGC.’

Former Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith, who also served as Shadow Defence Secretary, said: ‘The IRGC spreads terror, threatens British citizens, targets Iranian dissidents and fuels antisemitism and extremism, including here in the UK.

He continued: ‘If the Government were finally to proscribe the IRGC, it would fundamentally change our diplomatic relationship with the Iranian regime and would inevitably require the Iranian Ambassador to return home.

‘Labour should stop hiding behind process, proscribe the IRGC and take the steps necessary to protect British citizens.’

epa11616757 Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers march in formation during the annual military parade marking the Iraqi invasion in 1980, which led to an eight-year-long war (1980-1988); in Tehran, Iran, 21 September 2024. According to IRNA news agency, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said 'our defense system power is on that level that no enemy even dares to think to attack against Iran, and we will continue to develop our defense system in any aspects.' EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been blamed for violence around the globe (Picture: EPA)

Both Bob Blackman and Greg Stafford called on the government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group.

Downing Street has always emphasised the sanctions they have placed against the IRGC, using asset freezes, travel bans and director bans.

This has included more than 500 Iranian individuals and entities connected with the Regime.

In July 2025, the UK joined 13 other countries in condemning Iranian intelligence activities

Responses

    Sarah Mitchell·

    Great article! This really puts things into perspective. I appreciate the thorough research and balanced viewpoint.

    James Anderson·

    Interesting read, though I think there are some points that could have been explored further. Would love to see a follow-up on this topic.

    Emma Thompson·

    Thanks for sharing this! I had no idea about some of these details. Definitely bookmarking this for future reference.

    Michael Chen·

    Well written and informative. The examples provided really help illustrate the main points effectively.

    Olivia Rodriguez·

    This is exactly what I was looking for! Clear, concise, and very helpful. Keep up the excellent work!

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