Senior Tories piled on pressure for Britain to put diplomatic relations with Iran on ice after the pariah state launched its “reckless” failed attack on Israel.
Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer also demanded tougher action against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for “glorifying” terrorism on UK soil.
Rishi Sunak is expected to agree new sanctions on Tehran with leading Western powers within days.
But the Prime Minister is so far resisting proscribing the IRGC, which would effectively sever ties completely with Iran.
He said the government continues to use all the powers at its disposal to “make sure that people aren’t fermenting hate and undermining British values here at home from abroad”.
The PM told the Commons: “We are urgently working with our allies to see what steps we can take together in a co-ordinated fashion to deter and condemn what Iran is doing.”
Rishi Sunak updates MPs on Iran’s attack on Israel (Image: House of Commons)
Mr Sunak will urge Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint following the attack to avoid the tinder box Middle East being further destabilised.
He added: “With this attack Iran has once again shown its true colours. They are intent on sowing chaos in their own backyard, on further destabilising the Middle East.
“Our aim is to support stability and security because it is right for the region and because although the Middle East is thousands of miles away, it has a direct effect on our security and prosperity at home.
“So, we’re working urgently with our allies to de-escalate the situation and prevent further bloodshed.
“We want to see calmer heads prevail and we’re directing all our diplomatic efforts to that end.”
Iran launched about 350 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, but the majority were intercepted before they could reach their targets.
British jets shot down a number of Iranian attack drones.
The onslaught followed Israel’s targeting of an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria earlier this month.
Iran has been blamed for supporting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon which have targeted Israel, along with the Houthi group in Yemen which has mounted attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Serious concerns about the activities of the IRGC have been repeatedly raised in the House of Commons and there has been widespread support for proscribing the organisation.
Last year, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, published a report that warned the group is responsible for plotting global terrorist attacks, hostage-taking and other offences on foreign soil and there has been a surge in its activities over the last decade.
It said the IRGC is behind propaganda efforts to nurture homegrown extremism on UK soil and its ideology is being promoted in mosques, charities and schools.
A report by centre-right think tank Policy Exchange released yesterday (MON) warned Iran “seeks to wield social and cultural influence” in the UK by creating institutions that project power and influence.
Last month an Iranian journalist, Pouria Zeraati, 36, was stabbed outside his home in Wimbledon in what he believes was a state-sponsored attack.
Tory former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith urged the Prime Minister to “please, please” now consider proscribing IRGC and “do it in a way that will make sure they can no longer ferment extremism here in the United Kingdom as well”.
He said: “All roads lead back to Tehran when it comes to the terrible violence and the wars that take place in the Middle East. And every country, not just Israel, other Arab countries fear what Tehran is doing in their countries as well, I think we forget about it.
“We know that they are committing murder at home, they have executed thousands of protesters whilst this war … has been taking place.”
Former home secretary Suella Braverman said it was time to “put the UK’s national security first” by banning the IRGC.
She said: “We have known for years that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the world’s chief sponsor of terrorism, funding and promoting terrorist plots, radicalisation and hostage taking both in the Middle East and at home. We have proscribed Hezbollah, we have proscribed Hamas, Prime Minister, why don’t we put the UK’s national security first by now proscribing the IRGC?”
Mr Sunak replied that the government recognises the threat from Iran and has taken measures to counter it at home and around the world.
He added: “I’m confident the police, security services and courts all have the tools that they need to sanction, prosecute and mitigate threats from Iran, we strengthened our sanctions regime recently, including sanctioning the IRGC in its entirety.”
The UK has resisted proscribing the IRGC as it would effectively mean cutting off all diplomatic ties with Tehran.
Britain’s relations are seen as valuable by the United States after it severed its own links five years ago.
Mr Sunak would only give the go ahead for proscribing the organisation if UK intelligence and security agencies advised the government that it was the correct move.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the situation is kept under review but stressed it is in Britain’s interests to keep diplomatic channels open.
He said: “We recognise what a dangerous organisation it is. Sanctions are in place. It is kept under review.
“The police have powers to deal with IRGC action. Diplomatic relations between Iran and the UK aren’t great, but we can deliver direct messages to them.
“It is in Britain’s interest to be able to do that.”
The peer urged Israel to be “smart as well as tough” by not escalating the conflict with Iran.
Israel should recognise Tehran’s attack at the weekend as an “almost total failure” and “think with head as well as heart” in its response, the Foreign Secretary said during a round of broadcast interviews.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was “no doubt” the attack “has left the world a more dangerous place” and said Iran “must be wholly condemned by all”.
He said “a full-scale conflict in the Middle East is in no-one’s interest” and “it is a path that can only lead to more bloodshed, more instability and the unleashing of forces that are beyond the ability of anyone to control”.
Sir Keir also called for steps to limit the power of the Revolutionary Guard to “glorify terrorism here in the UK”.
Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told the Daily Express that Iran’s failure to strike through Israeli defences proves its regime is not as powerful as it makes out.
He said: “The Israelis would be entitled to respond after such a major attack on their territory by Iran even though it failed.
“The Israelis should be guided by their assessment of the competence and quality of Iranian air defences.
“If they believe they could launch missiles and other weaponry at Iran and the Iranians would be unable to intercept them, then there is no good reason why they should not do so.
“The whole world, including the people of Iran, would see how powerful Israel’s armed forces are compared to those of Iran. That would help deter future direct aggression by Iran against Israel.”
