The UK government said on Monday that a plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire was almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and it sanctioned two Iranian nationals.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the House of Commons on 12 October that the plot was "highly likely" to have been coordinated in Iran and "almost certainly" directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Türkiye Today.
The UK sanctioned Ruhollah Bazghandi and Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki. Mr Bazghandi is described as the IRGC's head of counterespionage operations. Mr Tamarzadeh Jakki is described as a facilitator of the Zindashti criminal network.
According to Eastern Herald, which cited the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the measures are an asset freeze, a travel ban and director disqualification.
Iran's ambassador to the UK was summoned. The UK also joined a statement with 28 other countries condemning alleged Iranian state-backed activity abroad, Eastern Herald and Türkiye Today reported.
The incident took place in the early hours of 27 September at RAF Fairford, according to Al Jazeera. Five British men in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences.
Two more men were also arrested and later released. All were released on bail and no one has been charged. Police found petrol in three vans but no viable explosives, according to the reports.
Reports vary on the number of arrests, from five to seven. The five were the original arrests, and later ones were described as additional. Eastern Herald said a British-Iranian national was among the later arrests, a detail from a single source.
Mr Burnham said the UK would "crack down on Iran's use of criminal networks" and bring further sanctions. He also said: "We will not tolerate these threats on our soil."
The US withdrew about a dozen B-1 bombers from Fairford after the incident, according to Al Jazeera and Türkiye Today. Al Jazeera said US media, citing unnamed sources, linked this to a risk from small drones. That claim has not been confirmed.
Iran's foreign ministry rejected the accusation. In a statement late on Monday, it called the claim "an ugly plot" and a "clumsy false flag operation", Al Jazeera reported. It said the aim was to evade accountability for Britain's participation in the war.
Iran's ambassador, Ali Moussavi, rejected the accusations "categorically" and called for evidence, according to the state news agency IRNA, as reported by Foreign Policy Journal. Iran says Britain has given insufficient evidence.
The UK has not published the intelligence behind its assessment. Al Jazeera said the details remain opaque. No British response to Iran's call for evidence had been reported.
Mr Burnham's wording was an assessment, not a finding by a court. Phrases such as "highly likely" and "almost certainly" describe the UK government's judgment of the evidence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel gave the UK intelligence before the incident. Israeli President Isaac Herzog backed this in a BBC interview, according to The National. Britain has not confirmed this.
RAF Fairford hosts US heavy bombers. On 12 March, Al Jazeera reported that B-1B bombers had returned there after what was believed to be the first US strike mission against Iran launched from a British base.
The US and Israel began strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026, according to Al Jazeera. They killed several Iranian leaders and officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On 1 October, Mr Burnham spoke of "strong indications" of an Iranian hand. The 12 October statement is described as the firmest UK attribution so far, according to The National and Türkiye Today.
Eastern Herald refers to an earlier UK plan to designate the IRGC under state-threats powers. It also refers to a separate package of sanctions on 71 Iranian nuclear entities. It says neither is the same as these sanctions.
The UK says Iran uses criminal networks for operations abroad. The Zindashti network is described in the UK announcement as a criminal network. Mr Burnham pledged action against such networks and their funding.
Mr Burnham said further sanctions are possible. Police investigations continue and no one has been charged. No Iranian retaliation had been reported.
Photo: Senior Airman Ryan Hayman / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
