Iran has denied any involvement in a bomb scare at RAF Fairford, the air base in England from which US bombers have been flying missions against Iran, after five British nationals were arrested near the base.
Iran’s embassy in London said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” linking Tehran to the incident, and described British media reports connecting Iran to it as “Iranophobia propaganda”, AFP reported.
What happened
As The Indus Compass reported at the weekend, five men were arrested near the base. The five, all British nationals from London in their mid-20s, were arrested on Sunday after police received alerts about three suspicious white vans heading towards the base in Gloucestershire, in south-west England.
Bomb disposal robots were used to examine the vehicles, with forensic experts and military support at the scene. The five were released on bail on Monday after lengthy interviews.
Police look at ‘proxies’
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said investigators were examining “activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state.”
He did not name the foreign state concerned, and no one has been charged.
Government reaction
The scare drew a high-level response from the British government:
| Official | Response |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister Andy Burnham | Convened emergency meetings |
| Defence Secretary Wes Streeting | Warned: “Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm” |
| Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood | Confirmed the scene was safe |
Why Fairford matters
RAF Fairford is home to US Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers that have been carrying out missions against Iran. In March, the UK government authorised the US to use bombers at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites around the Strait of Hormuz.
A war that keeps widening
The scare comes as the conflict with Iran continues with no end in sight. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump denied offering Iran sanctions relief as Tehran sent its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said US forces do not venture beyond the Arabian Sea.
The Defence Secretary’s warning about Iran and its proxies shows how seriously the British government is treating the threat, even as the police investigation continues and no charges have been brought.
What happens next
The five men remain on bail while the investigation continues. Police have not said whether they believe any attack was being planned, or whether the vans contained anything dangerous. The investigation into possible foreign involvement is likely to be closely watched in both London and Tehran.
Why it matters
Any suggestion that the war with Iran could reach military bases in Europe raises the stakes for Britain and its allies. Iran’s swift denial and the police’s careful language about “proxies” show how sensitive the case is. For Pakistan, which has close ties with both Iran and the West and has hosted talks between the US and Iran, any widening of the conflict adds to the risks for the region.
This article draws on reporting by AFP and Dawn.
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