Iran Hunting British Spies Using List From Taliban After MoD Leak
Above: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 10, 2025. Image copyright: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
The data breach was yet another catastrophic failure in the government’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, a debacle characterized by poor data handling and corner-cutting. The U.K. government must learn from these past mistakes and drastically improve its crisis response to prevent similar blunders from recurring and protect its operatives in the field.
Pro-government narrative
The government has acted responsibly to protect lives by securing court orders and implementing emergency relocation programs for those at risk. The independent Rimmer Review has also concluded that individuals are unlikely to be targeted merely for being on the list. Regardless, protective measures will remain in place for personnel in sensitive positions.