Our revelation that British universities are actively helping Iran perfect its drone armoury is genuinely shocking — and brings home the pressing need for the murderous Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

Quite apart from their role in destabilising the Middle East, Iranian drones are being used daily by Russia in its bombardment of Ukraine.

It is bad enough that there have been historic links between British universities and the Iranian regime, but with the introduction in 2017 of a ban on the export of drone technology to Iran — as well as more recent sanctions against specific individuals and organisations involved in supplying Russia — it is deeply disturbing that those involved appear to be able to treat the law with impunity.

Most of the research is funded directly by the Iranian government, often via contracts signed openly with the IRGC.

The case for proscription is overwhelming. The IRGC has been responsible for terrorist attacks and hostage-taking globally as well as appalling human rights violations in Iran.

It is the largest funder of Hezbollah, which is itself proscribed.

And as the JC revealed in March, the IRGC has been plotting to kill British Jews.

Proscription is an urgent necessity.