Tehran Denies Connection to Plot to Target RAF Fairford Base

Listen to the article. The audio text is automatically generated by a machine system.

The Iranian embassy in London denied today, Monday, what it described as "malicious and baseless speculation" linking Tehran to five British citizens who were arrested over the weekend near the RAF Fairford airbase.

The embassy stated in a post on X platform that it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" attempts to link Iran to the arrests, adding that such speculation will only serve to "fuel anti-Iranian propaganda" in Britain.

The British police have not linked Iran to these arrests, and investigations are still ongoing under the leadership of the anti-terrorism police.

RAF Fairford airbase is home to American bombers that conduct air missions targeting Iran.

British police are holding five men today, Monday, and are examining suspected explosives found near a U.S. military base in England, as investigators from the counter-terrorism police look into whether the arrests thwarted an attempt to carry out an attack linked to Iran.

The five individuals were detained yesterday, Sunday, after three trucks were spotted near RAF Fairford.

Investigators have not yet determined whether the incident constitutes a state-sponsored attack. They are looking into a potential connection to Iran, Russia, or non-state armed groups.

The five suspects were initially arrested on suspicion of offenses related to explosives, and they were later arrested on suspicion of preparing to commit a terrorist act.

Police stated that all the suspects are British citizens from London and in their twenties. They can be held for up to 14 days before charges are brought against them or they are released.

Residents were evacuated from 85 homes in the village of Wilford near the base yesterday, Sunday, and military bomb disposal experts used a robot to inspect the three white trucks. Residents of the villages were unable to return to their homes until this morning, and the trucks were not moved.