Reports: Iran Conducts Shadow War Inside UK Targeting Propaganda and Finance Networks

What happened

The Telegraph reported on June 1 that Iran is conducting a “shadow war” inside the United Kingdom, extending beyond reported sanctions violations to include propaganda efforts, financial operations, and digital disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing division within UK society. The article details ongoing UK Treasury investigations into nine suspected sanctions breaches in 2024 but stresses that these represent just a fraction of Iran’s clandestine activities in Britain.

This campaign reflects a historical pattern of Tehran seeking to weaken the UK, seen as a longstanding adversary, through messaging that paints Britain as hostile. Iranian state-backed media, such as Press TV, continues to push pro-Tehran narratives online despite losing its UK broadcasting license in 2012. UK-based groups linked to Iranian interests, like the Islamic Human Rights Commission, have organized public events including Quds Day rallies that at times showed support for Hezbollah before its UK terrorist designation.

Concerns have also been raised over Iranian financial institutions with offices in London, notably Melli Bank and Bank Saderat, both previously implicated by international authorities for financing armed groups in the Middle East. Their continued London presence near major financial institutions has drawn scrutiny from UK Members of Parliament worried about illicit financial flows.

Known from the source

• The Telegraph reported Iran’s shadow war inside the UK involves propaganda, financial networks, and disinformation.
• UK Treasury is investigating nine suspected violations of Iran-related sanctions in 2024.
• Press TV lost its UK broadcast license in 2012 but continues promoting Iranian state content online.
• Islamic Human Rights Commission organizes Quds Day demonstrations in London with past visible support for Hezbollah.
• Iran-linked banks, Melli Bank and Bank Saderat, maintain offices in London and have prior sanctions histories.

What remains unclear

Iran’s influence extends into social media disinformation. OpenAI identified a network called Storm-2035, likely linked to Tehran, that posted divisive content in English and Spanish on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), often using fake personas and stock imagery. The Telegraph highlighted Iranian attempts to exploit internal UK divisions, including activity around the Scottish independence debate. Some accounts tied to this effort reportedly went silent after Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure, with academic research connecting the network to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

What remains unclear: Attribution of Storm-2035 network to Iranian state actors or IRGC beyond OpenAI and Clemson University research. Verification of specific links between UK-based organizations and Iranian state directives. Updated status and outcomes of UK Treasury investigations into sanctions violations. Current UK government actions or policy responses to counter Iranian influence campaigns.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Iran International. Open the source.