Britain don point finger at Iran over suspected plot wey target Royal Air Force base Fairford. Prime Minister Andy Burnham tell parliament on Monday say the incident near the airbase for southern England almost certainly directed by Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. The talk raise diplomatic tension well well, and Tehran still dey deny any responsibility.
Burnham talk say: ‘We will not tolerate these threats on our soil.’ He add say government go crack down on Iran use of criminal networks, using full range of powers to target them and their funding streams. He also vow say: ‘We will bring further sanctions to restrict the capacity of Iran and the IRGC to do us harm.’
The incident near the airbase for southern England happen for early hours of September 27 when five British men in their 20s were arrested on suspected terrorism and explosives offences. Police say they find supply of petrol inside three vans linked to the suspects, but no explosives. Dem later release the men without charge on police bail under stringent conditions.
Last week, Counter Terrorism Policing arrest one 22-year-old British national on suspicion of terror offence linked to the security incident. Earlier this month, a 25-year-old British-Iranian man also arrested in London.
For statement on X, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband say Britain dey sanction two Iranians for their role in facilitating or engaging in hostile activity on behalf of the Iranian regime, but he no name them. ‘We have repeatedly made clear to Iran, Britain will not tolerate threats on our soil,’ he talk.
The sanction come as 29 countries, including Britain, the US, most European states, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, issue joint statement on Monday wey blame Iran for the attempted infiltration. The statement talk say: ‘Any attempt by Iran to threaten, silence, intimidate, harass, harm, or coerce people on our territories through proxies or any other means is unacceptable.’
On Monday, Ali Mousavi, Iran ambassador to the UK, meet Stephen Doughty, the UK minister for the Middle East, and categorically reject allegations of any Iranian role. He urge the British side to refrain from any unsubstantiated statements. Mousavi tell British authorities say Tehran willing to cooperate with the investigation into the incident, Iran state news agency IRNA report.
Iran embassy in London issue statement last month say Iran categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations wey try link the country to the arrests. The embassy add say the talk go fuel Iranophobia propaganda.
The US move im B-52 and B-1 bombers from the base earlier this month. RAF Fairford don serve as stopping point for US bombers wey dey participate in war against Iran, which begin more than seven months ago, on February 28. RAF Fairford dey roughly 160km, or 100 miles, west of London, and na the preferred European base for US bombers. Their withdrawal happen over concerns about suspected Iranian plot to carry out complex drone attack on the facility, according to US officials.
Foreign secretary also summon the Iranian ambassador to make clear say Britain will not tolerate threats on our soil following last month incident at RAF Fairford. Ed Miliband talk say attempts by Iran to undermine UK security through its criminal networks, proxy groups and state-backed malign activity is unacceptable. Prime Minister Andy Burnham tell MPs say the incident in Gloucestershire almost certainly directed by Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard, while the home secretary talk say the likely coordinator na known individual based in Iran.
Iran ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, talk say Tehran no dey involved and e willing to cooperate with British authorities. The Foreign Office also sanction two Iranians, including the head of the regime counterespionage operations. Both men face travel bans and asset freezes. Burnham also indicate say Iran fit face further sanctions over suspected role.
UK and 28 other countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, France and Germany, issue joint statement wey condemn in the strongest terms violent attacks by Iran. The statement accuse Tehran of carrying out lethal plotting, arson, sabotage, cyber-attacks, and other hybrid activities. It also recognise UK attribution of Iranian involvement in the incident at RAF Fairford.
A huge police operation begin after officers were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the base for early hours of 27 September. Dozens of homes were evacuated for nearby village of Whelford and a large cordon put around the site. So far, total of seven men, all in their 20s, don be arrested and later bailed in connection with the incident. Nobody don charge.
Last week, Downing Street insist say the airbase safe after the US withdraw all of its bombers, about a dozen B-1s from the base, back to their home stations on American soil. In July, Iran talk say any base wey dem use for aggression against Iranian territory constitute legitimate target for our forces. RAF Fairford, in the Cotswolds, don be forward operating location by the US air force for decades. In recent months, the US fly B-1 and B-52 bombers from the base for the Middle East, after the UK approve American request to use it for defensive strikes on Iran.
A US state department spokesman confirm say US Secretary of State Marco Rubio get call with Miliband on Monday. Dem discuss how to hold Iran to account for its actions and continued collaboration to secure US assets in the United Kingdom.
