Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday rejected the British government's claim that Iran "played a part" in a recent alleged plot near Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, a base hosting the U.S. Air Force in southwest England.
British police detained five men in their 20s near the air base on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses, following reports of three vans heading toward the facility. On Monday, all five suspects were released on police bail after investigators searched the vehicles and linked properties in London.
Araghchi posted his denial on social media platform X on Thursday in response to comments made a day earlier by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Speaking to BBC News on Wednesday, Burnham stated there were "strong indications that Iran played a part" in the RAF Fairford incident, while emphasizing that a complex police investigation remains ongoing.
Araghchi stressed that London's decision to grant bail to the suspects exposed the flaws in the allegation, adding that British officials were "barking up the wrong tree."
Iran summoned British Ambassador Hugo Shorter Thursday to the Foreign Ministry in Tehran. Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi presented a formal objection to Shorter, demanding an official explanation from London and calling on British officials to "rectify its inappropriate approach" toward Iran.
The UK's decision to grant the suspects bail was also criticized by U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had been "disturbed" by the move.
The RAF Fairford air base has been used by the United States to strike targets in Iran.
Iran rejects Britain's claim of involvement in military base incident
