Is British Dan Jarvis who's spewing hatred against Iran today, the same person who planted explosives in Afghan victims’ bodies?

Pars Today – British special forces, among whom the current UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis is a key figure, stand accused of holding "kill competitions" and planting explosives in the bodies of Afghan victims.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Dan Jarvis, Security Deputy of the British Home Secretary, addressed the House of Commons regarding the recent anti-terrorism operation that led to the arrest of several Iranian nationals. He reiterated allegations about what he called Iran’s "security threat," claiming Tehran had orchestrated several "dangerous plots" on British soil in recent years.

According to Pars Today, Jarvis referenced a new UK government plan to register all activities tied to foreign state entities, warning: "Anyone operating in the UK on behalf of the Iranian government without registering will commit a serious criminal offense." 

Iran’s official response 

Alireza Yousefi, Assistant Foreign Minister and Director-General for Western Europe in Iran's Foreign Ministry, outright rejected the accusations by UK officials and MPs following the suspicious arrests of Iranian nationals. He stated: " The undesirable habit of some British politicians and officials in repeatedly making baseless and unsubstantiated claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran is undoubtedly detrimental to the relations between the two countries. It exacerbates historical mistrust and suspicion among Iranians towards the British government, and the responsibility for this lies with the British government." 

Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had previously emphasized in response to similar claims by British officials: "The baseless allegations by Britain against Iran are a prime example of projection." He also urged British officials to end their unconstructive behavior and support for anti-Iranian groups, and instead of persisting with confrontational policies and making unfounded accusations, to pursue more constructive approaches.

According to Iranian officials, such allegations are often seen as part of a propaganda campaign and political pressure against Tehran, driven by specific objectives pursued by Western countries.

But who is Dan Jarvis? 

An important issue that must be addressed is examining the British official behind these anti-Iran accusations, Dan Jarvis, who has followed an unusual political path in the UK as a Labour Party MP and Shadow Justice Minister. Before entering Parliament, he was an army officer who served in dangerous missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. At 34, Jarvis was already highly experienced, with a service record in Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, and multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2007, Jarvis was in command of a unit of British paratroopers in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. His unit, primarily composed of paratroopers, was part of the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) — the newest branch of the United Kingdom’s special forces. The full details of Jarvis's mission are classified, but the mission involved recruiting and training local volunteers to serve in the Afghan Army; an elite unit tasked with countering the Taliban.

In a previous mission in Helmand Province in 2005, as part of a small reconnaissance team assisting the British Army in identifying key areas for its operations in southern Afghanistan, he was responsible for training Afghan forces. However, he later transitioned to a career in politics in 2010.

In 2011, following the resignation of the former MP for Barnsley Central due to a financial scandal, Jarvis won a midterm-election and entered Parliament, becoming the first person since World War II to resign from a military commission in order to run for election. In the British Parliament, Jarvis quickly rose in prominence, earning recognition as a key figure despite not belonging to any specific faction within the Labour Party. Even conservatives have acknowledged him as a potential leadership candidate for the party. However, Jarvis appears to show no signs of personal ambition and says his sole focus is on the upcoming elections and securing victory for Ed Miliband.

What did Jarvis and his unit do? 

To date, numerous reports have been published about the criminal actions of Western military forces, particularly American and British troops, during the occupation of Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. In this context, specifically examining the crimes committed by British special forces, of which Dan Jarvis was a member, can reveal their true nature.

In May 2024, The Sunday Times reported that a senior British officer revealed horrific actions by UK special forces, even as the investigation into British war crimes in Afghanistan was being delayed. British special forces stand accused of holding 'kill competitions' and planting explosives in the bodies of Afghan victims. Previously disclosed documents show how a member of this same British military unit is attempting to bring them to trial. The British newspaper disclosed that one of the highest-ranking officers in UK special forces reported to police that troops under his command had committed war crimes by killing prisoners in Afghanistan.

According to The Sunday Times, this officer told investigators from the Royal Military Police that a 'cancer' had infected a rogue squadron of British special forces, resulting in the killing of dozens of unarmed Afghan detainees.

The report states the officer feared violent retaliation against his family if members of the UK special forces discovered he had exposed these crimes.

In fact, the case of British special forces massacring Afghan civilians stands as one of the most significant war crime cases in Afghanistan, and Dan Jarvis, who now levels accusations against Iran, was among these very forces.

Obviously, he never mentions in his statements the criminal acts for which he and his comrades were responsible. British special forces stand accused of killing approximately 80 people in Helmand Province, who were reportedly killed in cold blood, while sleeping, or after capture between 2010 and 2013.

Recently, The Guardian reported that the UK Ministry of Defence has delayed processing this case until 2025. Regarding this same case, Politico reported that Johnny Mercer, the then UK Veterans Minister (who held the position until July 5, 2024), could face jail time due to the war crimes investigation. According to the report, Mercer risks court sanctions for refusing to disclose the military whistleblowers who informed him about British special forces' killings of Afghan men and children.

MG