UK bans IRGC, Tehran targets US base, winning big in Iran: Trump

Britain formally designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a threat to national security on Friday, making public support for the organization or assistance to it punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The IRGC was designated alongside the Iran-linked Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps, the first organizations placed under powers created by the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026. The designations took effect on July 17 after Parliament approved an order submitted by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood four days earlier.
Under the new law, it is now a criminal offence to express support for the groups, including by glorifying or encouraging activity that threatens the safety of the United Kingdom. Providing assistance or accepting money or another material benefit from a designated organization can also lead to prosecution. Those convicted could face prison sentences of up to 14 years.The government says the new framework will make it easier to prosecute people working for foreign organizations because prosecutors will not always have to establish a direct connection between an individual act and a foreign government.
Meanwhile,Iran said on Friday they had attacked a US special operations command center in Syria's al-Tanf region and targeted US helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft at Bahrain’s Sakhir Air Base in a drone attack. Kuwait activated its air defenses against missile and drone threats, Qatar said it intercepted a missile attack after booms were heard in Doha, and air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain.: Iran attacked Kuwaiti water and power plants in counterstrikes against the US, underscoring how the conflict in the Middle East is worsening and threats on civilian sites are increasingly under threat. Kuwait’s government said on Friday a desalination and electricity plant was hit, with many power-generation units sustaining damage.
President Donald Trump said the United States was “winning big in Iran” and that the results of its efforts would become apparent “very, very shortly.” The US expanded its airstrikes against Iran early Friday as it targeted civilian infrastructure, hitting bridges and railway stations.