Tehran condemned “baseless and malicious speculation” about attacks on bases used by the US, as the UK’s FM vowed to “take action against Iranian proxies”.
Published September 28, 2026
Iran has denied any involvement in an alleged plot targeting Britain’s Fairford Air Force Base.
In a statement on Monday, the Iranian embassy in London condemned “fabricated speculation” linking Tehran to the incident. Amid the conflict between the two countries, five British nationals have been arrested near a base housing US military aircraft used to bomb Iran.
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The suspects were taken into custody on Sunday morning on suspicion of “preparing terrorist acts.” Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Monday that Britain must be ready to “confront” all security threats facing Europe and the world, adding: “We will act against Iranian proxies.”
The Iranian embassy in London “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the baseless and malicious speculation recently published by some individuals and media outlets in the UK,” claiming the accusations would fuel “Iranophobic propaganda” in the UK.
It added that Iran reserves the right to “take appropriate legal action.”
British police have so far not revealed any links between Iran and the arrests as anti-terrorism police continue to investigate.
British security services are considering “multiple investigations” into charges of offenses under the Explosives Act and “preparing terrorist acts”.
The British government has given permission to the United States to use bombers based at Air Force Fairford to attack Iranian missile bases that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Sunday, a person familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-related motive was considered the most likely, but Russian sabotage and Islamist plots were also being considered.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in July that the Fairford base was a legitimate target.
British police have arrested five people after receiving a report that three suspicious vehicles appeared to be heading towards a base in southwest England.
Counter-terrorism police identified the men in a statement on Monday as British nationals aged between 23 and 25 from London.
On Monday afternoon, the head of Britain’s counter-terrorism police said the five people would be released on bail “following extensive interviews and interrogations”.
Assistant Commissioner Lawrence Taylor added: “To be clear, this does not mean the investigation is over. They are subject to strict conditions regarding their movement and contact with others.”
US President Donald Trump said the suspects were trying to cause “great damage” and that British and American authorities “have been investigating them for a long time, and we have them.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was scheduled to chair a meeting of the COBRA emergency response team on Monday as British authorities continued to investigate the incident.
