Stories
UK Points to Iran in RAF Fairford Incident; Tehran Rejects Claims
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News18•01-10-2026, 04:09
UK Points to Iran in RAF Fairford Incident; Tehran Rejects Claims
- •The UK government stated there are ‘strong indications’ Iran was involved in suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, a military base in southwest England.
- •British Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed the incident, which triggered a major security response, remains under investigation.
- •Iran’s embassy in London and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ‘categorically rejected’ and ‘strongly condemned’ the speculation, with Araghchi telling Burnham he was ‘barking up the wrong tree’.
- •Police arrested five British men on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses after three white vans were seen near the base, but no explosives were found, only petrol.
- •The incident occurred after Britain allowed the US to use RAF Fairford for defensive operations against Iran, a move Tehran had previously warned against.
Key Questions Answered
A local resident alerted police after spotting three white vans blocking a road and masked men running into a field near RAF Fairford.
Following a three-day investigation with bomb disposal teams, police confirmed that no explosives were found in the vehicles, though a quantity of petrol was recovered.
Iran's embassy in London strongly rejected the speculation, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was "barking up the wrong tree".
