Britain says there are “strong indications” Iran played a role in a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, a military base in western England used by U.S. forces for operations against Iran.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that British authorities believed Iran had played a role in the incident, while stressing that the investigation was ongoing.
“There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation,” Burnham told the BBC.
The comments are the British government's clearest public link between Iran and the incident, which has prompted a major counter-terrorism investigation and drawn attention from the U.S.
Five British men, aged between 23 and 25 and from London, were arrested on Sunday near RAF Fairford on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences. They were later released on bail while the investigation continues.
Iran has strongly denied any role in the incident.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Burnham’s comments in a post on X, questioning the British authorities’ decision to release the five men.
“PM Burnham says the UK Government ‘can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part’ in the RAF Fairford incident,” Araghchi wrote.
“I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You're barking up the wrong tree.”
Iran’s denial comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Western governments, particularly over U.S. military operations against Iran.
RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, has long been used for U.S. military operations. U.S. bombers have recently operated from the airfield during strikes against Iran, placing the base in the spotlight amid heightened tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump said shortly after the arrests that the men had been planning “big damage”. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said the incident “clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor”, without directly blaming Iran.
Before Burnham’s remarks, British authorities had not publicly identified Iran as being involved.
Counter-terrorism police had, however, said they were examining whether a foreign state could have been involved, including the possibility that individuals might have been acting as proxies “knowingly or unknowingly”.
Burnham said Britain was working closely with the U.S. as the investigation continued.
Police said on Tuesday that petrol had been discovered in vans linked to the suspects, although no improvised explosive device was found.
The discovery has left key questions unanswered over what the men were allegedly planning and the nature of the incident.
Police have also defended their decision to release the suspects on bail following criticism of the move, including from Trump.
Investigators are examining what the men were doing near the base, whether they intended to carry out an attack and whether anyone else was directing or assisting them.
The Times reported that one of the suspects contacted emergency services shortly before his arrest in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the newspaper, investigators were considering several possible explanations, including whether the incident was an attempt to assess security at the base, a “dry run” for a possible operation or an effort to send a message to the British government.
Investigators were also reportedly examining whether the call suggested the suspect had abandoned a plan or whether it formed part of a wider operation.
The Times did not identify its sources, and police have declined to comment on whether one of the suspects made such a call.
British authorities have not publicly presented evidence linking the five men to Iran. Burnham’s comments represent the government’s assessment during an ongoing investigation, rather than a finding established in court.
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