UK attributes RAF Fairford terror plot to Iran's Revolutionary Guards

On October 12, 2026, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that a September 27 security incident at RAF Fairford was almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Following the arrest of seven suspects and the discovery of fuel-laden vans near the base, the United States military withdrew 12 B-1 bombers from the airbase amid intelligence of a planned Iranian drone strike. In response, Britain and 28 partner nations condemned Tehran's proxy activities, and the UK government imposed immediate sanctions on two Iranian officials, including counterespionage chief Ruhollah Bazghandi.

UK Prime Minister attributes plot to Iran

• ▪UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs on October 12, 2026 that the UK will crack down on Iran's use of criminal networks and target their funding streams
• ▪UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on October 12, 2026 that the September 27 security incident at RAF Fairford was highly likely coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Diplomatic summons and Iranian denial

• ▪Iranian Ambassador Ali Mousavi categorically rejected allegations of Iranian involvement in the September 27, 2026 incident at RAF Fairford during an October 12, 2026 meeting with UK Minister Stephen Doughty
• ▪UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband summoned Iran's ambassador Ali Mousavi to the Foreign Office on October 12, 2026 regarding the September 27, 2026 incident at RAF Fairford

UK sanctions against Iranian individuals

• ▪The UK Foreign Office designated Ruhollah Bazghandi, head of counterespionage operations for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with an immediate asset freeze, travel ban, and director disqualification on October 12, 2026
• ▪The UK government sanctioned two Iranian nationals on October 12, 2026 for facilitating hostile state activity and conducting espionage in Europe and the United States

Joint international statement

• ▪A joint statement from 29 nations on October 12, 2026 condemned Iran's use of violent proxy attacks, lethal plotting, arson, sabotage, and cyber-attacks on foreign territory
• ▪In an October 12, 2026 joint statement, Western foreign ministers warned that international partners will identify, investigate, disrupt, and prosecute anyone conducting hostile activities on behalf of Iran

Emergency response at RAF Fairford

• ▪Armed police officers and bomb-disposal experts responded to RAF Fairford on September 27, 2026 after a local farmer reported suspicious activity involving five men and white vans
• ▪Police investigators found petrol fuel in three vans linked to suspects at RAF Fairford but recovered no viable explosive devices

Police arrests in plot investigation

• ▪Counter-terrorism police arrested two additional suspects, including a 25-year-old British-Iranian national, bringing total arrests in the investigation into the September 27, 2026 incident at RAF Fairford to seven prior to their release on bail
• ▪Five men in their 20s were arrested near RAF Fairford on September 27, 2026 under suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses, but all were released on police bail without charges

US bomber operations at RAF Fairford

• ▪The United Kingdom had granted permission in March 2026 for the United States to use RAF Fairford for military strikes against targets inside Iran
• ▪The United States military abruptly withdrew all 12 of its B-1 heavy bombers from RAF Fairford during the first week of October 2026 and redeployed them to home bases in the United States
• ▪US officials stated that US bombers were removed from RAF Fairford due to intelligence regarding a suspected Iranian plot to launch a complex drone attack against the airbase

Debatable claims

• ▪UK attribution of the RAF Fairford plot to Iran is justified despite the lack of direct physical evidence
• ▪The UK should revoke US authorization to conduct offensive operations against Iran from British airbases