Tugendhat presses Miliband over Araghchi handshake, asking whether he knew of the alleged Iranian threat to RAF Fairford before their UN meeting

British Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat is seeking answers from Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband about what he knew of a possible Iranian-linked threat to RAF Fairford before meeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York on September 24. The Telegraph reported that Tugendhat wrote to Miliband asking whether Israel had shared intelligence about Fairford or other potential UK targets, whether it reached Miliband and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and whether he knew of it before the meeting and handshake.

Tugendhat also asked what advice Miliband received before agreeing to meet Araghchi. He questioned whether the prime minister, Cabinet Office and relevant security agencies had been briefed about the possibility of an Iranian-sponsored or Iranian-linked operation. The Telegraph reported that it was unclear whether the intelligence had been communicated directly to Miliband.

The meeting took place three days before police responded to suspicious activity near RAF Fairford on September 27. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the investigation and released on bail. U.S. officials have said intelligence about a possible Iranian-linked drone attack contributed to the decision to move about a dozen B-1 bombers from the base; Iran has denied involvement.

The Foreign Office said Miliband used the meeting to warn that Britain would not tolerate “intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil.” He also raised threats from Iranian-linked groups, the Middle East war and the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel warned the UK of a possible Iranian-sponsored attack, but did not specify whether that warning concerned RAF Fairford. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications” Iran played a part in the Fairford incident.