UK blames Iran’s Revolutionary Guard for air base plot

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told parliament on Monday that a suspected plot against RAF Fairford was "highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard." The U.S.-used air base in Gloucestershire has hosted American bombers striking Iran in the ongoing war. "We will not tolerate these threats on our soil," Burnham said, and he promised to go after Iran's use of criminal networks and bring in more sanctions.reuters+1

This is the government's strongest accusation against Tehran over the Sept. 27 incident. On the same day, Britain sanctioned two Iranians, summoned Iran's ambassador and joined 28 other countries in condemning Iranian "hybrid" attacks in the West.aljazeera+1

Sanctions and a joint statement

The Foreign Office said one of the two sanctioned men heads counterespionage operations in the Revolutionary Guard. Both now face travel bans and asset freezes. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Iran's "ongoing efforts" to undermine British security through criminal networks and proxies were intolerable.bbc

The foreign ministers of 29 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, France and Germany, issued a joint statement. It recognized Britain's finding that Iran was behind the Fairford incident and said the case showed "the IRGC's continued willingness to project hostile activity beyond its borders through covert networks and proxy actors". The statement followed a series of attacks across Europe on Jewish communities, Iranian journalists and U.S. interests. A group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya claimed responsibility for those attacks.jpost+1

Iran's ambassador, Ali Mousavi, met Middle East minister Stephen Doughty. He "categorically rejected" any Iranian role and urged Britain to avoid "unsubstantiated statements." According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, he said Tehran was willing to cooperate with the investigation.aljazeera

No charges yet

The incident began early on Sept. 27, when police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the base. Homes in the nearby village of Whelford were evacuated. Police found gasoline in three vans linked to the first five men arrested, but no explosives.wsoctv+1

Seven men, all in their 20s, have been arrested. Six are British nationals and one holds dual British-Iranian citizenship. All have been released on bail, and none has been charged. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was expected to update the House of Commons later Monday.bbc+1

Bombers withdrawn

U.S. officials told Reuters the suspected plot involved a planned drone attack. President Donald Trump said last week that a threat linked to Iran had led to the removal of American B-1 bombers from the base. The Pentagon said the bombers have returned to their home bases in the United States.reuters+1

Iran has denied involvement. It said in July that "any base utilized for aggression against Iranian territory qualifies as a legitimate target". The war began on Feb. 28.aljazeera+1