The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the British Ambassador to Tehran, Hugo Shorter, on Wednesday to protest a newly proposed British bill that designates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a threat to national security and bans any support for or dealings with it.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry, the diplomatic summon was initiated "following the unjustified action taken by the British government to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the State Threats Prevention Act".

During the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the measure and warned that the British decision would be met with a "firm and decisive reciprocal response" from Iran.

This diplomatic backlash follows plans unveiled by the British government on Monday to ban the IRGC, characterizing them as a threat to national security. The ban also targets an Iran-linked group accused of carrying out a series of attacks against Jewish interests.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that under the draft legislation, which is set to be presented to Parliament this week, "anyone found supporting or assisting these groups will face up to 14 years in prison."

The list of proscribed groups under the new bill will also include:

• The "Volunteer Corps" associated with Russian military intelligence.

• The "As'hab al-Yamin Islamic Movement," an Iran-linked group that has claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Jewish interests in London.

The new legislation grants the British government powers similar to those used to ban organizations, enabling it to classify proxies of foreign states deemed a threat to UK national security.