Banning IRGC will have power, says exiled prince BERGER’S BACK IN

Proscribing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would have the effect of “pulling out the biggest tooth the regime has” Tehran’s exiled crown prince has claimed, writes Lee Harpin.

Reza Pahlavi, the son and heir to the last Shah of Iran, has been living in exile since his father was deposed in 1979.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph during a trip to London, he urged the UK government to “understand” the impact a full ban of the IRGC would have domestically in Iran.

“It will send a strong message to the regime but at the same time to those who are still part of that organisation to say, maybe it’s time for us to bail out,” he said. “Because as long as we are stigmatised by being associated with it, our fate is sealed.

“In other words, you’re pulling the biggest tooth that the regime has out, you’re weakening it. And weakening the regime has a direct diametric effect of strengthening the people.

“You simply are paralysing them as much as you can, limiting their capabilities while sending a very strong message to the nation and to the regime that we’re not going to take this any longer.”

There are claims that Whitehall is divided over the impact of proscribing the IRGC. Proscription would make it a criminal offence to belong to the IRGC, attend its meetings, carry its logo in public or encourage support of its activities.

The IRGC was founded as an ideological custodian of Iran’s 1979 revolution but has since morphed into a major military, political and economic force in the country. It is claimed that foreign secretary James Cleverly is among those who believe proscribing the group could impact negatively on British interests. Security official, meanwhile, have shared their own intelligence on the IRGC with home office officials.

Pahlavi also spoke of the shift in opinion over whether it was possible to achieve reforms in Tehran. He said: “A nation now calls ‘death to the dictator’.  Editorial comment, page 18

Luciana Berger has rejoined Labour after Keir Starmer wrote to her and apologised for the “disgusting” antisemitism and death threats she endured under Jeremy Corbyn.

The 41-year-old former Liverpool Wavertree MP told Starmer she wished to “finish what you have started”.

The Labour leader tweeted: “I’m delighted Luciana has accepted my invitation to rejoin Labour. My test for change was whether those who were rightly appalled by how far we had fallen believe this is their party again.

“I know we’ve more to do but we’re unrecognisable from the party that forced her out.”

The Sunday Times said Starmer wrote to Berger the day the Equality and Human Rights Commission gave the party a clean bill of health over its handling of antiJewish racism.

In his letter Starmer wrote: “It is almost four years to the day since you left our Labour Party. I say ‘our’ deliberately.

You left because you were forced out by intimidation, thuggery and racism. Yours was a principled and brave move. But it was one you should never have been forced to take. That day will forever be a stain on Labour’s history.

“I don’t need to explain to you the litany of failures that left you — a Labour MP with a huge future ahead of you — no longer feeling welcome in your own party. Instead, I want to once again apologise.”

Berger replied: “I am looking forward to... working with you to continue what you have started. It is time to replace this reckless and divisive government and ultimately make the difference our country so desperately deserves.” She quit Labour in 2019 over antisemitism and the failure to counter Brexit. Another Jewish former MP, Dame Louise Ellman, has also rejoined the party.

In further good news for Starmer, Lord Sainsbury has donated £2m to the party.