The United Kingdom has said there are “strong indications” that Iran played a role in an incident near RAF Fairford, where five British men were arrested as part of a counter-terrorism investigation.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham made the disclosure on Wednesday, September 30, saying British and American authorities were working closely on what he described as a complex and serious investigation.
“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 said in an interview with the BBC.
The five men, all British nationals in their 20s and living in London, were arrested early Sunday near the airbase in Gloucestershire. They were initially detained on suspicion of explosives offences and later investigated for allegedly preparing an act of terrorism.
Police said three vans were found near the base and that officers recovered a quantity of petrol. However, counter-terrorism authorities confirmed that no explosive devices were discovered during searches of the vehicles.
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The men were released on bail but remain under investigation and subject to strict conditions. Burnham defended the decision to release them, saying the public should understand that the suspects remained under close scrutiny.
RAF Fairford has particular strategic significance because it has been used by US military aircraft. The base has been involved in American military operations against Iran during the ongoing conflict, making the incident a major security concern for both Britain and the United States.
The investigation has also attracted attention in Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously suggested that a foreign actor could have been involved, while President Donald Trump criticised the release of the suspects on bail.
Iran has rejected allegations linking it to the incident. The Iranian Embassy in London has described suggestions of Iranian involvement as unfounded and strongly condemned what it called attempts to connect Tehran to the case.
British counter-terrorism officials have said investigators are examining different possibilities, including whether individuals may have been acting knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of a foreign state.
The circumstances surrounding the men’s presence near RAF Fairford remain under investigation. Reports have also emerged that one of the arrested men contacted emergency services before the arrests, adding another unexplained element to the case.
Burnham said the UK would provide more information when appropriate but declined to disclose details that could affect the ongoing investigation.
“We will say more in due course, but we can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part,” he said.
Authorities have not publicly established the precise motive behind the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing.
