UK Blames Iran's IRGC for RAF Fairford Incident, Imposes Sanctions

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated Monday that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) almost certainly directed a security incident at RAF Fairford, a base used by the United States Air Force.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced immediate asset freezes, travel bans, and director disqualifications for two Iranian nationals: Ruhollah Bazghandi, identified as the IRGC's head of counterespionage operations, and Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki, described as a facilitator of the Zindashti criminal network. The Iranian ambassador to Britain was summoned to the Foreign Office for a dressing down.

The incident occurred on September 27, when three suspicious vans were stopped near the Gloucestershire military site. Seven people have been arrested and subsequently released on bail in connection with the event. Police found accelerants like petroleum in the vans but no viable explosives. The US last week withdrew its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford to bases in America, with President Donald Trump citing a threat linked to Iran.

Twenty-nine countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, issued a joint statement condemning Iran's hostile activity and lethal plotting, arson, sabotage, cyber-attacks, and other hybrid activities. Iran's ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, denied any involvement, stating Iran had no role and challenged the British government to present evidence for its claims. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood indicated a known individual based in Iran was believed to be behind the events.