British Soldier Accused of Ties to IRGC: I Oppose Tehran's Regime

A former British Army soldier accused of sending sensitive information to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims, "My family and I oppose Tehran's regime." Daniel Abed Khalife, who is charged with "terrorism" and "intelligence connections with Iran," denied the allegations against him during a court session on Wednesday, November 1. This former British soldier is accused of sending sensitive information to individuals linked to the IRGC and attempting to plant fake bombs at a military base. Prosecutor Mark Heywood stated in the initial trial at the Woolwich Crown Court in London that Khalife collected sensitive information between May 2019 and January 2022. The 23-year-old former soldier escaped from prison for a week last September but was recaptured. Khalife, who was discharged from the British Army last May after his ties to the IRGC were revealed, also attempted to plant "fake bombs" at a British military base. The British prosecution claims he received $1,500 from individuals linked to the IRGC and a week later emailed the foreign intelligence section of the British Secret Service stating he wanted to work as a "double agent." According to Reuters, his lawyer, Gol Nawaz Hossein, asked him in court whether he or his family supported the Iranian government. Khalife, whose mother was born in Iran, responded, "I don't think I've ever met anyone living outside Iran who doesn't oppose the Islamic Republic. My mother hates the Tehran regime, and this is true for my entire family... My family and I are against the Iranian regime." Khalife also spoke about his trip to Iran, saying, "Every day I was in that country, I wanted to go back; I hated it. I thought it was a terrible place... the weather, the government, the police, everything." He described his plan as "spreading false information to advance British national security interests" and added, "I know this plan may seem a bit strange."