Miliband tells Iran minister UK will not tolerate ‘hostile activity’ on British soil

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has told Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the UK will “not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil”.

The ministers met face-to-face at the UN General Assembly in New York City.

The Foreign Office said Miliband spoke to his counterpart about “the UK’s unwavering resolve to combat threats from Iranian-linked groups in UK soil, including attacks on the British Jewish community”. They also discussed war in the Middle East and a British couple detained in Iran, it said.

There was no immediate comment from Araghchi. Iranian news agency Irna reported that the men “discussed bilateral ties and international developments during their talks”.

Miliband’s comments follow an arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green in March and other incidents.

The BBC understands that UK intelligence chiefs were initially keeping an open mind as to whether the Iranian state or organisations working for it played a role in the Hatzola ambulance attack and other attacks against Jewish communities during 2026.

They later concluded that intelligence pointed to Iran or its proxies being involved in the attack.

A small power plant in the UK was also shut down in July due to a cyber attack, which the Telegraph reported, external was carried out by hackers affiliated with the Iranian regime.

The Foreign Office said Miliband also spoke to his counterpart about the country’s war with the US, telling Araghchi that Iran should choose “de-escalation and diplomacy instead of prolonging the war” while stressing the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

In February, the US and Israel attacked Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader.

Iran responded by launching strikes on Israel and neighbouring Gulf Arab states that host US military bases. It also effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass, impacting the global economy.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that any peace deal would have to include an end to the US blockade preventing Iranian ships from using the waterway.

Responding to US President Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal was not reached soon, Pezeshkian said his country will never “bend the knee”.

“The resistance of the Iranian people will only increase in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, increased bullying,” he said.

There was no immediate comment from the US, whose delegation walked out of the chamber at the start of Pezeshkian’s address.

The Foreign Office said Miliband also used Thursday’s meeting to raise the detention of British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman.

The couple, from East Sussex, have been detained in Iran for more than 20 months after being arrested while passing through the country on a motorcycle journey.

The Foremans were each sentenced to 10 years in jail in February on espionage charges, which they deny.

In Miliband’s discussion with the Iranian foreign minister, he reiterated the call for them to be immediately released and stressed that their welfare remained a priority for the government, the Foreign Office said.