Iranian 'hostile activity' highlighted as threat in UK security review

Major blueprint for tackling future threats focuses on role of hostile states entrenched in Britain and its energy or supply chains

Iranian opposition banner near the Iranian embassy in London on Tuesday. Carl Court / Getty Images

A British national security review has warned that the country must be ready for destabilising foreign activity to lead to a full-scale war.

The review warned that the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Iran should be seen as threat to the UK after Iranian infiltration into UK society.

We have to guard properly against those threats and we will do so

Keir Starmer,
prime minister

"Iranian hostile activity on British soil is also increasing, as part of the Iranian regime’s efforts to silence its critics abroad as well as directly threatening the UK," it said. "This follows years of aggressive and destabilising activity by the Iranian regime, which has included activity specifically targeted against UK interests at home and overseas."

The national security strategy released on Tuesday suggested the UK faced an age of radical uncertainty and ultimately needs to actively prepare for the possibility of a nuclear confrontation. Russia, China and even sub-state groups such as Yemen's Houthis were all identified in a range of growing dangers.

One response set to be announced on Wednesday is a strengthening of the UK’s nuclear deterrent with the purchase of 12 new fighter jets, which add an airborne capability to the sea-based submarine fleet operated by the UK.

“We are facing daily challenges on the home front. So whether that’s cyber attacks, which are very, very frequent and very, very serious, whether that is a focus on energy security," said Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who travelled to the Nato summit as the review was released. "In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security."

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Nato summit. Pool via Reuters

"You’ve seen state actions by Iran and Russia. In the United Kingdom, we have to guard properly against those threats and we will do so.”

The review added that the hostile activity on British soil from countries such as Iran threatened the public, critical national infrastructure and ultimately prosperity.

"For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario," the review added.

Mr Starmer's government has pledged, along with other Nato members, to increase spending on security to five per cent of gross domestic product by 2035. The total includes 3.5 per cent on defence and 1.5 per cent on the broader issues of security and resilience, like those addressed in Tuesday's review.

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  Leaders pose for a family photo during the Nato summit in The Hague. AP

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  US President Donald Trump speaks to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Getty Images

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  Police detain a protester during a rally against the summit. AP

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  Macarons with the Nato logo were served. AP

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  Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks at the beginning of the summit. EPA

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  King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands join a photo of leaders. Reuters

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  Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, US President Donald Trump, Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and France's President Emmanuel Macron in The Hague. Reuters

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  Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and US President Donald Trump talk on the sidelines of the Nato summit in The Hague. Reuters

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  Mark Rutte, secretary general of Nato, addresses heads of state and government at Paleis Huis Ten Bosch at the invitation of Dutch King Willem-Alexander in The Hague. EPA

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  US President Donald Trump, left, at a dinner with heads of state and government at Paleis Huis Ten Bosch at the invitation of Dutch King Willem-Alexander in The Hague. EPA

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  US President Donald Trump, centre, and Dutch King Willem-Alexander, second right, chat during a dinner for Nato heads of state and government at Paleis Huis Ten Bosch in The Hague. EPA

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  Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, right, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in discussions at the Catshuis on the sidelines of the Nato summit at The Hague. AP

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  US President Donald Trump arrives at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for the Nato summit. AP

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  From left: French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Nato summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Reuters

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  A demonstrator joins a protest against the arrival of a ship carrying F-35 fighter jet parts for Israel in Rotterdam, Netherlands. EPA

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  Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, right, receives Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Catshuis, the Prime Minister's official residence. EPA

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  Nato secretary general Mark Rutte with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Nato summit in The Hague. AP

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  US President Donald Trump before boarding the Marine One helicopter at the White House and travelling to The Hague from the US. Bloomberg

US President Donald Trump singled out Spain for criticism after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared Madrid did not need to meet Washington's demand for a common spending target. "There's always a problem with Spain," he said.

The UK spends 2.3 per cent of national income on defence and says that will rise to 2.6 per cent by 2027. It has said it will need a review after 2030 to set a road map for the rise above three per cent.

On Wednesday, the summit's final statement will be focused on affirming Mr Trump's demands.