At the UN General Assembly in New York, Ed Miliband warned Iran's deputy foreign minister that Britain will not tolerate intimidation or hostile acts on UK soil and urged Tehran to pursue de-escalation and diplomacy. The meeting covered the Middle East conflict, the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and concerns about Iranian-linked threats targeting the UK Jewish community. The article also recalls recent claims of Iran-linked attacks, threats by the IRGC against RAF Fairford, MI5 reporting of more than 20 Iran-linked plots in one year, and the imprisonment of British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman.
Miliband Tells Iran Britain Will Not Tolerate Intimidation After Threats and Attacks
Ed Miliband at United Nations General Assembly in New York - Angela Weiss
Ed Miliband told Iran's deputy foreign minister in a face-to-face meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York that Britain "will not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil." The discussion, held on the margins of the UN gathering, covered the war in the Middle East, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and growing concerns about Iran-linked activity affecting the UK.
Key Messages from the Meeting
The Foreign Office said Mr Miliband urged Iran to "choose de-escalation and diplomacy instead of prolonging the war." He also stressed the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that continued disruption undermines global security and economic stability.
Abbas Araghchi at the United Nations General Assembly in New York - Alexi J. Rosenfeld
"Britain will not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil," the Foreign Office quoted Mr Miliband as saying, and added that he set out measures the government has taken in response.
Security Concerns and Recent Incidents
The meeting follows a number of anti-Semitic attacks in the UK that have been linked by some parties to groups claiming ties to Iran. In April, two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green in an incident treated by police as a terror attack. A group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI) claimed responsibility via Telegram, though investigators said there was no immediate evidence tying the Iranian state to the attack and suggested the claim may have been opportunistic.
Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old British man born in Somalia, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the Golders Green stabbing and is due to stand trial next March; a plea and trial-preparation hearing was scheduled for 25 September.
Ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were set on fire in March - Henry NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
HAYI has also claimed responsibility for other incidents, including the firebombing of four ambulances belonging to a Jewish-run charity in Golders Green. Those claims remain unproven in public reporting and are under investigation.
Threats From the IRGC and Wider Intelligence Assessments
In July, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly said any base used in operations against Iran could be considered a legitimate target, and publicly referred to RAF Fairford in that context. The comment came amid international debate over the use of UK facilities for US operations.
In 2025, director-general of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, reported that the agency had tracked more than 20 'potentially lethal Iran-backed plots' in just one year - Jonathan Brady
A parliamentary report published in July 2025—drawing on classified intelligence—warned that Iran continued to attempt to assassinate dissidents on British soil and described Iranian cyber activity targeting UK companies. MI5's director-general, Sir Ken McCallum, has said the agency tracked more than 20 "potentially lethal Iran-backed plots" in a single year, and UK and international partners have publicly condemned Iran's transnational activities.
British Nationals Detained in Iran
Mr Miliband raised the case of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, a British couple from East Sussex who were arrested in Iran in January last year while on a motorcycle trip. They were sentenced in February to 10 years in prison on spying charges they deny and are being held in Tehran's Evin prison. The Foreign Secretary repeated the UK's call for their immediate release and said their welfare remains a government priority.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were handed 10-year prison sentences in February after being convicted of espionage - Free Lindsay and Craig Campaign/Reuters
UK Response and Diplomacy
The Foreign Office statement emphasised a two-track approach: pressing Iran diplomatically to reduce tensions while taking law-enforcement and protective measures at home against threats and hate crimes. Mr Miliband's meeting with Abbas Araghchi was presented by ministers as part of wider efforts to protect UK citizens and pursue de-escalation in the region.
What Happens Next: The UK will continue diplomatic engagement at multilateral forums, maintain security measures domestically, and press for the release of detained British nationals.
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