The British government has announced the initiation of a comprehensive investigation into allegations that scientists from UK universities have been assisting Iran in developing technology for
its "suicide drone" program. The probe comes in response to an investigation conducted by the Jewish Chronicle (JC), which revealed that academics from more than a dozen universities, including Imperial College London, have been collaborating with Iranian counterparts on drone research, potentially violating sanctions imposed on the oppressive regime.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the launch of the inquiry. The investigation will involve multiple departments, including the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office, and experts in science and technology. The revelations highlighted how British researchers were engaged in improving drone engines, enhancing altitude, speed, and range, with some projects being funded directly by the Iranian government. These developments are of particular concern as Russia currently deploys Iran's suicide drones in bombing operations against Ukraine.
In addition to engine advancements, UK researchers have been involved in joint efforts to develop swarming drone technology capable of operating numerous drones, aircraft, ships, missiles, and underwater buoys simultaneously, utilizing laser-based command-and-control systems. Military experts have warned that such technology could potentially enable Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), responsible for the country's military drone program, to launch overwhelming swarm attacks on Israel or Western allies.
Former cabinet minister David Davis MP raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions, urging Sunak to initiate an investigation and take action to address the failure of the sanctions regime. Sunak assured that allegations of export control breaches are being taken seriously and stated that the Department for Business and Trade is currently investigating the matter.
The investigation will span five government departments, namely the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC holds the authority to press criminal charges for sanctions violations, with penalties of up to seven years in jail and substantial financial fines.
The announcement of the inquiry follows a letter from senior MPs and peers, urging Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch to order an investigation into whether the research identified by the JC constitutes a breach of UK sanctions. The letter cited 11 studies involving collaborations between Iranian and British scientists at various universities, including Imperial College, King's College London, and Cranfield, Cambridge, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Northumbria universities. The parliamentarians emphasized that some of the studies openly acknowledged their military applications, potentially violating sanctions regulations related to restricted military technologies.
The universities involved in the collaborations have denied any wrongdoing, stating that they adhere to rigorous security policies, ethical codes, and compliance with national and international guidelines. The government has emphasized the strengthening of systems and the expansion of the Academic Technology Approval Scheme to safeguard UK research against evolving global threats, refusing applications that raise concerns.
The investigation aims to ensure national security and assess the extent of potential sanctions breaches, reflecting the seriousness of the matter and the potential risks associated with the technology being shared with Iran. Photo by HM Treasury and The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, Wikimedia commons.