Ed Miliband Warns Iran Against Threats On UK Soil

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, that Britain would not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil from groups linked to Iran.

The meeting took place on Thursday on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, during a face-to-face exchange with Mr Araghchi.

UK Says It Will not Tolerate Iranian-Linked Threats

In a readout of the talks, the Foreign Office said Mr Miliband set out the government’s response to threats connected to Iranian-linked groups, including attacks on the British Jewish community.

Mr Miliband also made clear that Britain would not accept intimidation or hostile actions affecting people in the UK, adding that the government had taken measures in response.

Discussions Cover Middle East War And Strait Of Hormuz

The Foreign Office said the pair discussed the war in the Middle East and the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

It stated that Mr Miliband told Mr Araghchi Iran should choose de-escalation and diplomacy rather than prolonging the conflict.

The readout said the foreign secretary stressed restoring freedom of navigation and the full reopening of the strait, warning that disruption continued to affect global security and economic stability.

UK Links Cyber Campaigns To Iran

The meeting also followed UK and US warnings about cyber activity attributed to Iran. The National Cyber Security Centre said last week that Iranian state-linked actors had used a spyware family known as “CHOSEN BRICK” to steal emails, messages and other sensitive information.

The NCSC said the approach involved spear-phishing campaigns on messaging platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram.

Paul Chichester, director of operations at the NCSC, said the campaign showed how Iran used digital surveillance to repress critics of the regime, including stealing communications and accessing devices.

According to the NCSC advisory, the malware can collect information from contact lists, emails and social media accounts, capture screen content and access a device’s microphone.

The NCSC added that some victims’ personal details later appeared on pro-Iran leak sites. In a separate advisory, the FBI said Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) used the malware to collect intelligence, carry out data leaks and inflict reputational harm against its intended targets.

Foreman Detainees Raised With Iran

Mr Miliband also raised the detention of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are from East Sussex. They were arrested by Iranian authorities in January last year while travelling through the country on a motorcycle trip and are currently being held in Tehran’s Evin prison.

The foreign secretary repeated the demand for the men to be released immediately, saying their welfare remained a priority for the government.

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25 September 2026