‘Bare-faced cheek’: Streeting hits back at Iran over Royal Navy and RAF ‘terrorist’ label

Defence secretary Wes Streeting has hit back at Iran’s branding of the RAF and Royal Navy as terrorist organisations, accusing Tehran of ‘bare-faced cheek’ over the move.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, and reported by ITV, Streeting said,

“I think Iran has some bare-faced cheek, given the extent to which they fuel regional instability, the way in which they engage in state-sponsored acts of terrorism.”

Iran moved to brand the two branches of the British military as terrorists in response to the UK’s decision to outlaw support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. It also labelled the British intelligence agency MI6 as a ‘hostile group.’

UK maintains diplomatic channels with Iran

Asked about the UK’s stance with Iran, Streeting said that the position was still to work towards de-escalation in the Middle East.

“We have always tried to point Iran towards the diplomatic alternative that exists, and we’ll continue to do so,” the Defence Secretary said.

Nevertheless, his ire for the current situation was clear, as he added, “The charge levelled at the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force by Iran doesn’t really dignify a response, except to say that I’m minded to take the press clippings and put them up in my downstairs toilet as a trophy.”

Streeting noted that the UK is still mindful of the incident at RAF Fairford, which is believed to have been coordinated by Iranian intelligence.

British Iranian dual national Mohmed Abdulkarim and British citizen Nouman Essghir, both aged 24, were charged under the National Security Act following the bomb scare that saw dozens of residents evacuated.

Iran’s retaliation sees RAF, Royal Navy and MI6 labelled as threats

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on 1 November designating the UK’s MI6 intelligence service as a hostile group and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations. It said this was in response to the British government’s “illegal and hostile actions against the Islamic Republic.”

The Ministry accused the UK of anti-Iranian policies and actions, saying that they violate both the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. Specifically, it noted the UK’s participation in the US-Israeli strikes by way of providing logistical and military facilities to the US.

The statement also noted reciprocity for the UK government’s listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a threat under the State Threats Act 2026, a decision that was taken on 13 July. In retaliation, both military institutions – the RAF and the Royal Navy – have been designated as terrorist organisations.

Iran stressed that “the British government would bear responsibility for the consequences of these measures.”