UK publishes legislation for tougher sanctions on Iran

The UK government has introduced sweeping new legislation designed to crack down on state-backed proxy organizations, with Iran squarely in the crosshairs. The National Security (State Threats) Bill, published in June 2026, gives authorities the power to designate foreign organizations acting on behalf of hostile states and impose serious criminal penalties on anyone who supports them. Supporting a designated entity could land someone in prison for up to 14 years. What the bill actually does The legislation creates a formal mechanism for the UK to label specific foreign organizations as proxies of hostile states. Once an entity is designated, providing it with financial support, material assistance, or operational backing becomes a criminal offense carrying that 14-year maximum sentence. Up to ten Iran-backed proxy groups are expected to be designated within the bill’s first year, following recommendations from the Independent Reviewer of terrorism legislation. The bill represents a philosophical shift in how the UK approaches state threats, moving beyond reactive measures focused on human rights abuses toward a more proactive framework targeting hostile state operations and nuclea...