Off The Record Podcast
Off The Record Podcast
January 26, 2026

🚨 LIVE: IRGC Targets Iranians In London - Death Threats Against Us

Quick Read

Iranian dissidents in London, including the host, face escalating death threats and harassment from the IRGC, leading the host to plan relocation due to perceived inaction by the British state.
IRGC operatives in London are issuing explicit death threats, doxing, and vandalizing homes of Iranian dissidents.
The host attributes the lack of protection to the 'British state's' historical ties to the Iranian regime and refusal to designate the IRGC as terrorists.
Facing direct threats to his family, the host is relocating from the UK, citing Europe as unsafe for dissidents.

Summary

Iranian dissidents and activists in London, including host Maya Tusi and his colleagues NIAC Korboni, Bahar, and Lily, are experiencing a severe escalation of threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These threats range from anonymous phone calls and online harassment to explicit death threats, doxing, and vandalism of homes, with messages openly advocating for violence against 'infidels' and 'Zionists.' The host asserts that the British state, rather than the government, is complicit through its refusal to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and its historical ties to the Iranian regime, leaving dissidents unprotected. Amidst these personal security concerns, the podcast also highlights the Iranian regime's internal instability, including its central bank printing quadrillions of rials to prop up insolvent banks and its contradictory diplomatic signals to the US (threatening attack while simultaneously begging for safety). Due to the perceived lack of state protection and the direct threats to his family, Maya Tusi announces plans to relocate from the UK to a safer location.
This episode exposes the tangible and severe threats faced by political dissidents operating in Western countries, challenging the perception of safety and free speech in major global cities like London. It highlights a critical failure of state protection for individuals targeted by foreign adversaries on domestic soil, raising questions about national security priorities and the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures. The host's decision to leave the UK underscores the profound personal cost of activism and the geopolitical implications of undeclared foreign influence within Western nations.

Takeaways

  • Iranian dissidents in London, including the host, are receiving escalating death threats, doxing, and property vandalism from IRGC-affiliated individuals.
  • The host criticizes the 'British state' for historical ties to the Iranian regime and its refusal to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, leaving activists vulnerable.
  • Specific examples of threats include anonymous phone calls, messages detailing home addresses, and explicit calls for beheadings.
  • The Iranian regime is exhibiting signs of internal panic, such as printing two quadrillion rials to prevent bank collapses, while sending mixed signals to the US (threatening attack and simultaneously seeking diplomacy).
  • Due to direct threats and perceived lack of protection for his family, the host announces plans to relocate from the UK, deeming Europe unsafe for dissidents.

Insights

1Escalating IRGC Threats Against Iranian Dissidents in London

Iranian dissidents and activists in London, including 2C TV reporter NIAC Korboni, Bahar, Lily, and Daniel, have received explicit death threats, doxing, and property vandalism from individuals linked to the Iranian regime. Threats include anonymous calls in Persian, messages detailing home addresses and dates of birth, and calls for beheadings, often framed in religious extremist language. Bahar's house was vandalized with 'kafir' and 'Zionist' graffiti after receiving such threats.

NIAC received anonymous calls threatening to kill him and stating they knew where he lived (). Bahar received Instagram messages and phone calls from 'jihadist of Islam' with explicit death threats and her personal details, followed by vandalism of her home (, ). Lily received warnings about assassination and takes extreme safety precautions (). Daniel received anonymous calls after being shown on Iranian state TV ().

2British State's Perceived Complicity and Inaction

The host asserts that the British state, rather than the government, is failing to protect Iranian dissidents due to a long-standing policy and historical relationship with the Islamic Republic since 1979. He highlights the presence of an IRGC headquarters in central London (Maida Vale) and the UK's refusal to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, unlike Canada. This inaction is framed as a deliberate policy of the 'globalist' British state, which prioritizes its relationship with the Iranian regime over the safety of its citizens and dissidents.

The IRGC has a headquarters in London, in central London in Maida Vale (). The British state refuses to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization (). The host states, 'You can't blame Keir Starmer. You can't blame the Labour Party. You can't even blame the Tories. This is the British state.' ().

3Iranian Regime's Internal Instability and Mixed Signals

The Iranian regime is showing signs of economic distress and political incoherence. Its central bank is printing two quadrillion rials as emergency aid to prevent widespread bank insolvency. Simultaneously, the regime is sending contradictory messages to the US: publicly threatening the USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles and warning that Trump's attack would be America's last president, while privately through back channels, begging President Trump not to attack and expressing openness to diplomacy.

Iran's central bank is printing two quadrillion rials to prop up insolvent banks (). A billboard in central Tehran threatens the USS Abraham Lincoln (). An Iranian MP warned that Trump attacking Iran would make him America's last president (). The Iranian foreign minister's spokesperson is 'begging President Trump not to attack Iran' and stating they are 'open to diplomacy' ().

4Host's Decision to Relocate from the UK for Family Safety

Due to the escalating threats and the perceived failure of the British state to provide adequate security, the host, Maya Tusi, announces his decision to move from the United Kingdom. He emphasizes the need to prioritize his family's safety, stating that he and his family are no longer safe in the UK, even in a gated community where they had moved after his previous address was compromised. He advises others to 'get out of Europe if you can' or at least 'stay away from cities' due to similar safety concerns.

The host states, 'We are no longer safe in the United Kingdom. We will be moving.' (). He mentions moving to a gated community after his Covent Garden address was found, but 'now they know' (). He advises, 'Get out of Europe if you can. Or at best, at least stay away from cities. It's not safe.' ().

Bottom Line

The host's forced relocation from London due to foreign state-sponsored threats highlights a critical vulnerability in Western national security, where major capitals are no longer considered safe havens for political dissidents.

So What?

This challenges the foundational promise of free speech and safety in democratic nations, suggesting that foreign state actors can effectively silence or displace critics even within Western borders. It implies a significant intelligence and security gap or a deliberate policy choice that prioritizes other interests over dissident protection.

Impact

This situation creates an urgent need for Western governments to re-evaluate their counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism strategies against foreign state actors operating domestically, potentially leading to stronger legal frameworks, increased protection for dissidents, and a more aggressive stance on designating and sanctioning hostile foreign entities like the IRGC.

Key Concepts

British Government vs. British State

The host distinguishes between the elected 'British government' (MPs, Prime Minister, ministers) and the unelected, fixed 'British state' (bureaucrats, civil servants, and 'people behind the crown'). He argues that in the UK, unlike the US, a new government cannot 'wipe out' the bureaucracy; the civil service remains fixed and largely dictates policy, including the long-standing relationship with the Iranian regime, regardless of the elected party. This 'deep state' in the UK is the official, unchangeable structure, making democratic influence on certain foreign policies difficult.

Lessons

  • Advocate for the official designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization by Western governments, particularly the UK, to curtail their operational capabilities and influence.
  • Support organizations and individuals providing security and legal aid to Iranian dissidents and other activists facing threats from foreign state actors in Western countries.
  • For individuals in similar high-risk situations, prioritize personal and family security by considering relocation to regions with stronger state protection and less foreign state infiltration, as exemplified by the host's decision.

Notable Moments

The host announces his decision to move from the United Kingdom due to escalating IRGC threats and perceived lack of state protection for his family.

This signifies a critical personal and professional turning point for a prominent Iranian dissident, underscoring the severe and tangible consequences of foreign state-sponsored harassment within a major Western capital.

Quotes

"

"London is a hub for the IRGC. The IRGC have a headquarters in London, in case you don't know."

Maya Tusi
"

"You can't blame Keir Starmer. You can't blame the Labour Party. You can't even blame the Tories. This is the British state."

Maya Tusi
"

"Publicly, we're not really friends with the with the Iranian regime, with Iran as we know it. That's what the Brits would say. But in reality, there is an IRGC headquarters in London."

Maya Tusi
"

"If the British state... If they can't even keep the British natives safe, what do we expect?"

Maya Tusi
"

"The British state is basically the fixed structure of the state. The people who call the shots are the palace and the Foreign Office."

Maya Tusi

Q&A

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