British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) almost certainly directed a suspected plot targeting a US-operated military air base in England.
Burnham had earlier said that strong indications pointed to Iran’s possible involvement in the alleged plan to attack RAF Fairford last month. The air base has supported US bomber operations against Iran during the ongoing war.
Police have arrested seven men in connection with the suspected plot. However, authorities have released all the suspects on bail. No one has been charged so far.
“I can confirm our assessment that it is highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard,” Burnham told lawmakers. ”We will not tolerate these threats on our soil.”
Residents Evacuated During Security Operation
The suspected plot triggered a major security operation near RAF Fairford on September 27. Armed police officers and military bomb-disposal experts arrived in the rural area as authorities evacuated dozens of residents from their homes.
Police later confirmed that investigators had found gasoline, an accelerant, in three vans linked to the first five suspects. However, they found no explosives in the vehicles.
The discovery formed part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged plan to target the military installation.
Seven Men Arrested in Suspected Plot
Authorities have arrested seven men as part of the investigation. All the suspects are in their 20s.
Six are British nationals, while the seventh holds dual British and Iranian citizenship. Despite the arrests, police have released all seven men on bail and have not filed charges against any of them.
The investigation continues as British authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the suspected plot and the possible links to Iran.
UK Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Security Threats
The British government summoned Iran’s ambassador on Monday to express its concerns about what it described as hostile activities linked to Tehran.
The government raised objections to “Iran’s continued attempts to undermine the security of the United Kingdom and international partners through its criminal networks, proxy groups and state-backed malign activity.”
The diplomatic move highlights growing tensions between London and Tehran over alleged threats to British national security.
Burnham also delivered a strong warning against attempts to threaten the country. His remarks signalled the government’s determination to respond to security risks linked to suspected foreign involvement.
US Withdraws Bombers From RAF Fairford
The incident has also raised concerns about the security of US military assets in Britain. The United States withdrew its bombers from RAF Fairford last week.
The Trump administration said it believed Iran posed a threat to the base. According to the administration, the suspected threats aimed to kill as many American troops as possible and destroy as many US military aircraft as possible.
RAF Fairford has supported American bomber missions against Iran during the ongoing conflict. Its role in these operations has made the base a significant security concern for both Washington and London.
The suspected plot, the arrests and the British government’s diplomatic response have added to tensions between the UK and Iran. However, authorities have not charged any of the seven suspects, and the investigation has yet to establish the full details of the alleged plan.
