British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has identified the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as the likely orchestrator behind a recent security plot targeting Royal Air Force (RAF) base Fairford. Asserting that the government will not tolerate threats on British soil, the Prime Minister announced that the UK intends to impose further sanctions to curb the IRGC’s capacity to conduct harmful operations and disrupt its funding networks. “We will not tolerate these threats on our soil,” Burnham told parliament on Monday, adding that the government, “will crack down on Iran’s use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams”.
The incident surfaced in the early hours of September 27 when five British men in their 20s were taken into custody on suspicion of explosives and terrorism-related offenses. While authorities discovered petrol supplies in three vans connected to the men, no explosives were recovered. Those individuals were later released on strict bail conditions without charge. Subsequent investigative steps have seen further arrests, including a 25-year-old British-Iranian man in London and a 22-year-old British national detained last week on terror-related suspicion. The incident near the airbase in southern England occurred in the early hours of September 27 when five British men in their 20s were arrested on suspected “terrorism” and explosives offences. According to police, They found a supply of petrol in three vans linked to the suspects, but no explosives.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the UK has sanctioned two Iranian nationals for their role in facilitating hostile activities on behalf of the Iranian regime. This coordinated international response included a joint statement from 29 nations—including the United States, Australia, Canada, and several European states—condemning any Iranian attempt to intimidate or harm people within their borders via proxies. Including Britain, the US, most European states, Canada, Australia and New Zealand issued a joint statement on Monday blaming Iran for the attempted infiltration, the move came as 29 countries. “Any attempt by Iran to threaten, silence, intimidate, harass, harm, or coerce people on our territories through proxies or any other means is unacceptable”, it said.
The diplomatic friction follows a period of heightened security at RAF Fairford, located 160km west of London. The base serves as a primary European hub for US bombers supporting the ongoing war against Iran, which commenced on February 28. Following concerns regarding a potential drone attack on the site, the US military relocated its B-52 and B-1 bombers earlier this month. RAF Fairford has served as a stopping point for US bombers participating in the war against Iran, which began more than seven months ago, on February 28.
Tehran has maintained its innocence throughout the probe. Iranian Ambassador to the UK, Ali Mousavi, met with Middle East Minister Stephen Doughty to formally reject the allegations, requesting that Britain avoid making unsubstantiated claims. According to IRNA, Iran’s state news agency, the ambassador expressed Tehran’s willingness to assist in the investigation. Previously, the Iranian embassy in London characterized the accusations as malicious, unfounded speculation intended to fuel propaganda.
