An Islamic centre branded the “nerve centre” for Iran in the UK has been reprimanded by the Charity Commission after posting a “pro-terror video” and clips calling for Israel’s destruction.

The Islamic Centre of England (ICE) has been issued with a formal order by the commission compelling its trustees to curb its online activity and future speakers.

The commission launched a statutory investigation into ICE in 2023 after allegations that it was the London office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In 2020, the centre hosted a vigil for Qassim Soleimani, the head of the Guard, who had been killed in a drone strike.

Seyed Hashem Moosavi, ICE’s director, issued a statement on its website praising Soleimani as a “great martyr”.

A commission statement said it had issued the centre with a “formal order under section 84 of the Charities Act, compelling the trustees to provide rigorous oversight of future speakers and online activity by the charity, among other actions”.

The section 84 direction gives the commission additional powers to intervene during an inquiry where there is suspected misconduct or mismanagement.

The move comes as Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, last week announced plans for new powers to proscribe the IRGC.

Under the proposal, anyone helping or benefiting from a banned state intelligence agency will now face up to 14 years in jail.

On Monday, David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, summoned the Iranian ambassador to be “held accountable” after three Iranian asylum seekers were charged last Saturday with spying in the UK.

Earlier this month, five Iranian men were arrested in connection with a suspected plot to mount a terror attack on the Israeli embassy in London.

The Charity Commission says its action has been taken because of ICE’s “recent failure” to fully comply with directions set by Emma Moody, the interim manager appointed as part of its investigation.

“The commission considers these, and a range of other past breaches, mismanagement and misconduct in the administration of the charity. The trustees currently dispute some of these legal findings,” the regulator said.

The commission said it would continue to monitor the centre’s invited speakers, religious services and public-facing content.

Former speakers have included Syeda Umme Farwa, a charity boss who was described by an Iranian media outlet as a “jihadi lioness” and was awarded a prize by Ebrahim Raisi, the former Iranian president known as the “Butcher of Tehran”.

The commission said in a statement that the ICE trustees “are instructed to ensure that all religious services, speakers and events further the objects of the charity and are in its best interests”.

Despite repeated warnings, the Islamic Centre has continued to platform controversial figures.

Earlier this year, the Jewish Chronicle revealed that the charity’s YouTube channel still hosted videos from 2020 in which Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of Iran, advocated “multiple intifadas” to remove the “cancerous tumour” of Israel.

Other clips accused the US and its allies of manufacturing Islamic State and enslaving the world. Some of these have since been removed.

David Holdsworth, the chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “The law requires, and the public expect, charities to operate exclusively for the public benefit... when a charity fails to operate in line with its legal duties we will step in to take action.

“We now expect the trustees to take the required action directed by the commission and will not hesitate to use further legal powers should that be necessary.

“The commission’s statutory inquiry is ongoing. It is the commission’s practice to publish a report setting out its findings, regulatory actions and conclusions once an inquiry has concluded.”

‘They need to shut it down’

The charity was, however, urged to go further. Col Richard Kemp, a former head of counter-terrorism in Afghanistan, said: “This is merely a slap on the wrist. The commission needs to take decisive action now and shut it down.

“Iran and its allies pose a direct threat to Britain. The response so far has been to try and sweep it under the carpet.

“The threat we face from Iran is deadly serious. It is of the utmost importance that firm action is taken wherever we can. This is the opposite. It needs closing down now.”