British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in New York, USA. The theme of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly is “Restoring trust, managing change: A United Nations that delivers results for all.” Photographer: John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran was behind the incident at the Royal Air Force base in Fairford on Sunday, with five men arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences.
Mr Burnham told the BBC on Wednesday: “There are strong indications that Iran was involved in the events that took place at RAF Fairford over the weekend,” but gave no additional details. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the TV program X that Burnham was “barking up the wrong tree”.
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire has been used as a US Air Force headquarters outpost for operations from Europe and American strikes against Iranian missile bases.
London initially refused to allow the US to use British bases for its war against Iran, but former Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed their use for “defensive attacks”.
Burnham’s BBC interview came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News on Monday that “foreign actors were clearly involved” in the incident at Fairford Air Force Base, without providing any details or evidence.
The Iranian embassy in London on Monday “categorically” rejected speculation linking the country to the alleged conspiracy.
All five suspects arrested are British nationals aged between 23 and 25, and one of them is said to have reported the incident himself to police. they were released on bail.
Iranian UNGA delegation leaves US
Separately, a U.S. official told MS NOW that Rubio had “expelled” the Iranian delegation at the United Nations General Assembly for “overstaying its welcome.”
Aragachi and other officials departed on Monday morning, US time. “UNGA is over and it’s time for them to leave,” the official added.
Indirect negotiations between the United States and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz failed to yield any results during the United Nations General Assembly.
The Iranian government had proposed a seven-day deal to the United Nations General Assembly that would open the Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear negotiations with the United States if the United States returned to the framework terms of the Islamabad deal.
An Islamabad memorandum in June led to a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, which collapsed in early July. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration has no intention of returning to the terms of the June agreement.
President Donald Trump on Sunday called Iran’s latest offer “unacceptable” and told reporters that the Iranian government, under economic pressure, wants a quick deal.
—CNBC’s Anniek Bao contributed to this report.
