<p>Iran wants to kidnap or kill UK-based individuals it deems "enemies of the regime", with at least 10 such plots uncovered so far this year, the head of Britain's domestic spy agency MI5 said Wednesday.</p>.<p>Director general Ken McCallum warned in a speech at the agency's Thames House headquarters that Iran "projects threat to the UK directly, through its aggressive intelligence services".</p>.<p>"At its sharpest, this includes ambitions to kidnap or even kill British or UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the regime," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/british-indian-spy-noor-inayat-khan-s-story-hits-london-stage-1161970.html" target="_blank">British Indian spy Noor Inayat Khan’s story hits London stage</a></strong></p>.<p>"We have seen at least 10 such potential threats since January alone. We work at pace with domestic and international partners to disrupt this completely unacceptable activity," he added.</p>.<p>Last week, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned Iran's top-ranking diplomat in London, accusing Tehran of threatening the lives of UK-based journalists.</p>.<p>The move coincided with Melika Balali, 22, an Iranian-born wrestler now based in Scotland, receiving police protection after accusations that she too had received death threats.</p>.<p>The threats to people outside Iran are said to have intensified since anti-regime protests erupted following the death in mid-September of Mahsa Amini for allegedly breaching strict dress rules for women.</p>.<p>Tehran and London have also clashed in recent years over the imprisonment of UK citizens in Iran.</p>.<p>The highest profile case was that of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a dual UK-Iran national, who was released in March after spending six years in a Tehran jail.</p>
<p>Iran wants to kidnap or kill UK-based individuals it deems "enemies of the regime", with at least 10 such plots uncovered so far this year, the head of Britain's domestic spy agency MI5 said Wednesday.</p>.<p>Director general Ken McCallum warned in a speech at the agency's Thames House headquarters that Iran "projects threat to the UK directly, through its aggressive intelligence services".</p>.<p>"At its sharpest, this includes ambitions to kidnap or even kill British or UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the regime," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/british-indian-spy-noor-inayat-khan-s-story-hits-london-stage-1161970.html" target="_blank">British Indian spy Noor Inayat Khan’s story hits London stage</a></strong></p>.<p>"We have seen at least 10 such potential threats since January alone. We work at pace with domestic and international partners to disrupt this completely unacceptable activity," he added.</p>.<p>Last week, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned Iran's top-ranking diplomat in London, accusing Tehran of threatening the lives of UK-based journalists.</p>.<p>The move coincided with Melika Balali, 22, an Iranian-born wrestler now based in Scotland, receiving police protection after accusations that she too had received death threats.</p>.<p>The threats to people outside Iran are said to have intensified since anti-regime protests erupted following the death in mid-September of Mahsa Amini for allegedly breaching strict dress rules for women.</p>.<p>Tehran and London have also clashed in recent years over the imprisonment of UK citizens in Iran.</p>.<p>The highest profile case was that of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a dual UK-Iran national, who was released in March after spending six years in a Tehran jail.</p>