Our revelation last week that British universities and scientists were being paid by Iran to conduct research into drones led to widespread shock and anger.

The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, pledged in the House of Commons to investigate. We are happy to make our research available and look forward to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office acting on it swiftly.

This week, we show how deep-seated and worrying the issue is. British universities are leading the way in helping Iran develop a command-and-control system to operate hundreds of drones simultaneously.

This is a mark of deep shame for our nation. Far from isolating Iran, the world’s most dangerous terrorist state, we are allowing its regime to use our brightest minds to solidify its power and export its violence and threat. Not just in Ukraine, where the Russians are using Iranian drones, but across the Middle East.

Statements promising an investigation are all well and good. But Iran has been pulling the wool over the eyes of the West for many years, aided by a wilful blindness on the part of those determined to revive the awful Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed under Obama.

The time for such naivete should have long ago passed. Yet still we dither over something as basic and vital as barring the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from acting in the UK.

The IRGC must be proscribed by the government. Now.