24 June 2025, 15:10 | Updated: 24 June 2025, 15:13

By Ghaffar Hussain

The conflict between Iran and Israel is understandably generating a lot of anxiety, not only for its potential to destabilise the Middle East, but also for the effect it may have on the UK.

The war itself remains contained to the region for now, but its implications for domestic extremism in the UK are worth exploring.

One of the key reasons why the Iran-Israel conflict has not yet ignited a large wave of extremist Islamist mobilisation is the sectarian nature of the dispute. Iran is a Shia-majority country, and the current regime represents a form of Shia-ism that is at odds with the Sunni Islam that most British Muslims adhere to.

Iran is often viewed with suspicion by Sunni Islamists due to its religious orientation, geopolitical alliances, and perceived use of sectarian militias to project power. As a result, the Iran-Israel war does not offer the same ideological rallying point for Sunni extremists in the UK.

The conflict can still ignite broader anti-Israel and anti-Western sentiment, especially if the war intensifies, encompassing Sunni factions in the region, with large numbers of civilian casualties. While this could cause anger and protests, it is still unlikely to lead to the war becoming an ideological rallying point in the way that the Iraq War........

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