UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps almost certainly directed a suspected plot against RAF Fairford. The threat led to the withdrawal of U.S. B-1B Lancers from the base.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the House of Commons on Monday that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) almost certainly directed a suspected plot against RAF Fairford, a British air base used to launch U.S. bomber strikes on Iran. This assessment marks Britain’s first formal attribution of the plot to Tehran.
The threat prompted the U.S. Air Force to withdraw all 12 B-1B Lancer bombers from RAF Fairford, located about 100 miles west of London. According to Source 1, Fairford is the U.S. Air Force’s only dedicated forward operating location for heavy bombers in Europe. Flight-tracking observers recorded the aircraft leaving on October 4, and the Pentagon stated they returned to their home stations. The U.S. Air Force pulled the bombers over roughly a day earlier this month after intelligence indicated an Iranian drone threat.
The security response began on September 27, when armed police stopped three vans near the Gloucestershire base and evacuated nearby residents. Police recovered gasoline but no explosives, according to Source 1. Concrete barriers were installed at the main gate on October 1.
Police have arrested seven men in connection with the investigation:
All seven men have been released on bail under strict conditions, and none has been charged. Source 3 notes that it was unclear whether those arrested were connected to the alleged drone attack or were planning a different one.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband summoned Iran’s ambassador, Seyed Ali Mousavi, to the Foreign Office in London. According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, Mousavi rejected the allegations, stating Tehran had no involvement and asking Britain to produce evidence.
Britain sanctioned two Iranians tied to IRGC operations, including Ruhollah Bazghandi, described as the IRGC’s head of counterespionage, and a facilitator linked to the Zindashti criminal network. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that states like Iran “pay criminals or exploit naive volunteers” while keeping plausible deniability.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the U.K., U.S., and about 27 other governments condemned Iranian attacks on their territory. The statement said the Fairford case showed the IRGC’s willingness to project hostile activity through covert networks and proxies. “Anyone who conducts hostile activities on behalf of Iran, or any other state, should know that we will take action to identify, investigate, disrupt, and prosecute these acts,” the statement said.
The incident highlights escalating tensions between Western nations and Iran, particularly regarding the use of proxy networks for hostile activities abroad. The withdrawal of the B-1B Lancers, the U.S. Air Force’s long-range strike aircraft, from its only dedicated forward operating location for heavy bombers in Europe underscores the severity of the intelligence threat. With no charges filed yet, the investigation continues as Britain pledges further sanctions to restrict the IRGC’s reach.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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