Iran REALLY Hates Britain. Here's Why.
Simon Whistler • October 9, 2026
Members only
Note: this transcript was generated by AI and may contain errors or inconsistencies.
Who is the greatest enemy of the Islamic Republic of Iran? Some might naturally say the United States, or the Great Satan as it's commonly known in Tehran. Some might say Israel, given the extreme hostilities between both nations since its founding.
And some might argue it's actually Saudi Arabia, with the modern Middle East and Cold War split down Sunni and Shia lines. But it's actually none of those. Because if you were to listen to Iranian government officials at times through the last few decades, the country that puts a bee in the Ayatollah's bonnet the most is… Britain.
Yes, a country today best known for Doctor Who and cycling through Prime Ministers like an Italy Tribute Act as an outsized, dedicated section within Iran's kaleidoscope of hatred. And it's our job today to figure out why.
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About this briefing
A century of occupation, the 1953 coup, and decades of hostage diplomacy left Tehran with a deep suspicion of London — a suspicion the regime now finds too useful to give up.