English
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard almost certainly directed a plot to attack a U.S.-run military air base in England. Burnham made the statement on Monday, addressing lawmakers directly and confirming the government’s formal assessment of the alleged RAF Fairford attack plot.
“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 parliament. He added firmly: “We will not tolerate these threats on our soil.”
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
The Alleged Plot Against RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford, located in rural England, has served as a base for American bombers conducting strikes against Iran during the ongoing conflict. Burnham had previously indicated strong links between Iran and the apparent plan to attack the facility. On September 27, armed police and army bomb-disposal experts flooded the area around the base. Scores of nearby residents were evacuated from their homes as the operation unfolded.
Police later found a quantity of accelerant — specifically gasoline — inside three vans connected to the initial five suspects. However, officers did not find any explosives at the scene.
Seven Arrested, None Charged
Authorities have arrested seven men in connection with the alleged plot. All seven suspects are in their 20s. Six hold British nationality, while one is a dual U.K.-Iranian citizen. Despite the arrests, all seven men have since been released on bail. No charges have been filed so far.
Meanwhile, the British government summoned the Iranian ambassador on Monday. Officials expressed strong displeasure over what they described as “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.”
U.S. Response and Wider Implications
The United States pulled its bombers from RAF Fairford last week. The Trump administration said it believed the base had faced Iranian threats specifically designed to kill as many American troops as possible and destroy as many U.S. aircraft as possible.
The incident has sharply raised tensions between the United Kingdom and Iran. Furthermore, it has drawn renewed attention to the security risks facing Western military installations linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran. British authorities say the investigation remains active as they continue to assess the full scope of the alleged conspiracy.
