The Iranian embassy in London has apparently urged its fellow countrymen living in the United Kingdom to "sacrifice their lives for the Homeland'" in an alarming call-to-arms broadcast to thousands.

Iranian diplomats have called on its UK-based diaspora to "lay down [your] lives" for Iran in a fresh campaign purporting to "defend Iranian land".

The call-to-arms, published on the Iranian consulate's official website and via an Iranian government-run Telegram channel, instructs fellow Iranians to register their interest with authorities to participate in the martyrdom effort. It also makes specific reference to recruiting "children" to the campaign.

The brazen recruitment drive has been condemned as 'appalling' by UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, who has urged prime minister Keir Starmer, the police, and the Home Office to step in.

The message, shared on the official Telegram channel for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London on April 15, calls on the Iranian diaspora in the UK to "lay down [their] lives" in order to "defend Iranian land". Readers are subsequently urged to register their interest through the consulate's Mikhak system; the Iranian government's official digital platform for consular services.

The recruitment message, broadcast to thousands, reads in full: 'We inform our proud compatriots residing in the United Kingdom that, in order to objectively realise the national will and desire for the people's defence of Iran, the possibility of registering for the "Patriotism Campaign" has been provided ... so that a manifestation of empathy, loyalty, and national zeal can be displayed in an integrated format.

"All brave and distinguished children of Iran are invited to participate consciously and register in this campaign, adding another golden page to the book of honours of this ancient land and demonstrating that their hearts are bound to the dignity and greatness of their homeland."

It concludes with a chilling verse drawn from a celebrated sequence of patriotic Persian poetry known as the Shahnameh, or the Book of Kings, composed by the legendary poet Ferdowsi: "Let us all, one and all, give our lives in battle. Rather than surrender our country to the enemy." The Metro verified the closing lines of the poem with St Andrews University senior lecturer in Persian Studies Saleed Talajooy.

London-based campaign group United4Mahsa, established in 2022 following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini after she was beaten while in the custody of the Iranian government, has voiced serious concern over the embassy's message to its UK diaspora.

Co-founder of the group Haleh Blake said: "The public announcement calling for martyrdom by the Embassy located in the UK displays the regime is running out of existing human resources and now using its public platforms to recruit killers and bad actors against its enemies, which includes the Iranian diaspora.

"This should be yet another clear alarm to the Keir Starmer and the Labour government to not hold any negotiations with the Islamic Republic's regime and proceed with the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the entity that is currently running the country."defend Iranian land'. Those reading are then urged to register their interest via the consulate's Mikhak system; the Iranian government's official digital platform for consular services.

The recruitment message, broadcast to thousands, reads in full: 'We inform our proud compatriots residing in the United Kingdom that, in order to objectively realise the national will and desire for the people's defence of Iran, the possibility of registering for the "Patriotism Campaign" has been provided ... so that a manifestation of empathy, loyalty, and national zeal can be displayed in an integrated format.

"All brave and distinguished children of Iran are invited to participate consciously and register in this campaign, adding another golden page to the book of honours of this ancient land and demonstrating that their hearts are bound to the dignity and greatness of their homeland."

UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel declared it was "appalling that the Iranian embassy is trying to use Britain as a recruiting ground". She called on the UK Prime Minister to "summon the Iranian ambassador to explain himself", before asserting that "the Home Secretary and the police must immediately investigate and intervene to ensure the British people are kept safe."

A UK government spokesperson stated: "We take the safety of the public incredibly seriously and investigate all allegations of threat thoroughly. We are clear-eyed about the threats posed by Iran, and our first priority is protecting British interests and British lives both in the UK and overseas.

"Work is well underway to bring forward proscription-like powers to clamp down on malign state activity."

Beyond being circulated via Telegram, Iran's so-called Sacrificed Life Campaign also features on the Persian-language version of the UK embassy website. The recruitment drive appears prominently at the top of the homepage in a large banner, inviting individuals to express their willingness to "sacrifice their lives for the Homeland". While the English-language version of the same website does purport to carry details of the campaign, the link remains non-functional.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Embassy said via a statement: "Iranians around the world have always cared deeply about their homeland and the protection of its territorial integrity, and they always will.

"'The 'Jan Fada' platform is intended for all Iranians who wish to support and defend their country, and it does not promote any form of hostility. Any claims or assumptions to the contrary are simply unfounded. Such biased judgments are made hastily and without proper understanding."

The Mirror has approached the Home Office and the UK Counter Terrorism Policing unit for comment.