Iran Seeks Taliban Access to Leaked UK Afghan Database
Above: Taliban security personnel guard Afghan refugees at the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran after their deportations from Iran on June 27, 2025. Image copyright: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Opposition narrative
This represents a catastrophic U.K. intelligence failure that puts countless lives at risk. The accidental leak of sensitive data containing MI6 operatives and Afghan allies creates a nightmare scenario where hostile regimes can hunt down British assets. Iran's formal request shows how a simple administrative error has become a geopolitical weapon.
Pro-government narrative
The U.K. government's two-year legal battle to suppress this story through super-injunctions was necessary to protect lives, not hide embarrassment. Officials acted responsibly by fighting in court to prevent reprisals against vulnerable Afghans and British personnel exposed by this breach.
Metaculus Prediction
Editor's Note
This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.