Burnham says Iran almost certainly directed RAF Fairford plot, vows further sanctions as Britain summons envoy and designates two Iranians

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Parliament on Monday that the suspected plot near RAF Fairford was “highly likely” to have been coordinated in Iran and “almost certainly directed” by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He said Britain would crack down on Iranian-linked criminal networks and their funding, and impose further sanctions to restrict Iran’s and the IRGC’s ability to act against the UK.

The British government summoned Iran’s ambassador and announced sanctions against two Iranian nationals. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband identified them as Ruhollah Bazghandi, an IRGC counterespionage official, and Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki, described by the government as a facilitator for a criminal network.

The September 27 incident occurred near RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire base used by the U.S. Air Force. Seven men were arrested during the investigation and later released on bail without charge. U.S. officials said intelligence about a potential Iran-linked drone attack contributed to the withdrawal of B-1 bombers from the base; Iran has denied involvement.

Burnham also confirmed that a British air-defense deployment and an RAF Voyager tanker had been sent to Saudi Arabia, with the aircraft completing 14 operational air-to-air refueling missions. He said Britain would “continue to stand with Saudi Arabia against the Houthis,” describing the deployment as necessary to protect civilians after attacks on King Khalid International Airport.

The UK, U.S. and more than two dozen other countries issued a joint statement condemning what they described as Iranian-linked lethal plotting, arson, sabotage, cyberattacks and other hostile activity abroad.

The joint statement recognized the UK’s attribution of Iran’s involvement in the September 27 Fairford incident and said the episode demonstrated the IRGC’s willingness to project hostile activity abroad through covert networks and proxy actors.