UK Designates Foreign Bodies Under New National Security Act

On July 14, 2026, the UK Government laid draft regulations to designate three foreign bodies as threats under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026. The designated entities are the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, and Russia's GRU Volunteer Corps. This marks the first use of the new powers aimed at disrupting foreign power threat activities against the UK. The Act criminalizes support for these organizations, with penalties including life imprisonment for serious offenses like espionage and sabotage. The UK has identified specific threats linked to these groups, including intimidation and plots against individuals on UK soil. Additionally, the UK and EU recently issued joint cyber sanctions targeting Russian state-linked actors involved in cyber-attacks. The situation remains dynamic as Parliament reviews the draft regulations.

Key Points: • UK designates three foreign bodies as threats under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026. • Designation criminalizes support for these entities, with penalties including life imprisonment. • UK and EU have issued joint cyber sanctions targeting Russian state-linked cyber actors.