UK chief rabbi urges government to expel Iranian ambassador after call for citizens to become 'martyrs'

The UK’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has urged the British government to expel the Iranian ambassador following a message from the Iranian embassy that appeared to call on British Iranians to become “martyrs” for the Islamic Republic.

The message, which appeared in Farsi on Telegram on Tuesday, called on those “devoted to Iran” to “sacrifice for the homeland.”

“Let us all, to a man, give our bodies to be slain; for it is better than giving our country to the enemy,” the message read, adding directions to a website to apply.

One day after the message was posted, a man stabbed two Jewish men in Golders Green in London. The Iranian-affiliated terror group Harakat Ashab Al-Yamim Al-Islamiyya (HAYI) claimed responsibility for the attack.

“We are wondering how it is possible on Tuesday, just three days ago, the Iranian embassy here in the UK called on Iranians in the UK ‘be loyal to your country,’ go out and even put your lives on the line in order to act on behalf of Iran. It is basically a call for martyrdom,” Rabbi Mirvis said. “One day later, we see somebody trying to knife as many people to death because they are Jews in Golders Green.”

Following reports about the message, UK Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer summoned Iranian Ambassador Seyed Ali and the Metropolitan Police said it was investigating the post, but the government has not yet expelled the ambassador.

Mirvis noted that Australia expelled its Iranian ambassador and that Lebanon attempted to do the same.

“How is it in Australia, the Iranian ambassador has been expelled, that in Lebanon, of all places, the Iranian ambassador has been expelled, why is the Iranian ambassador still here?” Mirvis asked. He also warned of “state-sponsored terrorist activity in this country.”

“Why isn’t there a more serious look at the threat not just to Jews, the threat from Iran within our society and to our whole society?” Mirvis added. “We need a national emergency … and we must give far more seriousness to the situation at this time.”

In response to the appeal, Member of Parliament Alex Davies-Jones said it was important to maintain diplomatic relations with Iran.

“This is important that we get this right, that we are keeping those channels open, that we are keeping diplomatic channels open with the Iranian ambassador, particularly at a time when there is war taking place in Iran,” she said, adding that the Foreign Office had summoned the ambassador “to discuss those comments, to see what more can be done working together”.

In May 2025, British Police foiled a planned attack against the Israeli embassy in London, arresting eight suspects, including seven Iranian nationals.

Also, last May, five suspects, including four Iranian nationals, were arrested by British police on suspicion of preparing separate terrorist acts.

As early as February 2023, British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat said Iran was using criminal gangs for surveillance and to spy on prominent British Jews.