Britain accuses Iran's IRGC of directing foiled RAF Fairford terror attack

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs on Monday that the foiled terror plot at RAF Fairford last month was "almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)."

Following the announcement Iran's ambassador to the UK was formally summoned to the Foreign Office for an official reprimand for ongoing "malign activity."

"I can confirm our assessment that it is highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard," Burnham said.

He also linked the plot to Iran's use of criminal networks to carry out clandestine operations against the UK.

The UK identified several targets of Iranian agents, including including Jewish communities, Iranian journalists, and US interests.

Five people were arrested near RAF Fairford on September 27 on suspicion of terror offences. Several others were arrested following the initial incident.

That incident was followed by another attempted infiltration of RAF Molesworth by two Latvian nationals last week, as well as the 2025 attack on RAF Brize Norton in 2025 by now-banned group Palestine Actionwhose members sprayed paint onto RAF Voyager aircraft used for air-to-air refuelling.

Burnham added to his statement regarding Iranian involvement in the RAF Fairford incident that the UK was determined to continue supplying air-to-air refuelling capabilities to Saudi Arabia via RAF Voyager aircraft as Saudi Arabia continues its campaign against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.