Iran’s foreign minister has hit back at Andy Burnham’s claims that the country was involved in the suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford, saying he is “barking up the wrong tree”
Iran’s foreign minister has fired back at Andy Burnham, accusing him of “barking up the wrong tree”.
It comes after the Prime Minister suggested “Iran played a part” in the suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford.
Abbas Araghchi posted on X: “I can confirm Iran’s belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree.”
Five British men, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosive offences and terrorism near the military base before being released on bail pending further investigation on Monday.
When questioned about the case on Wednesday, Burnham said: “There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but it remains an ongoing, complex and serious police investigation.”
Speaking to Sky News, he added: “People will know, though it’s consumed quite a considerable amount of my time here in Liverpool this week. I did chair COBRA on Monday.
“We have been waiting to confirm what we could say, but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a part.”
Burnham also stated he would not hesitate to recall Parliament if necessary.
He was also pressed to comment on the US President’s dissatisfaction with the release of the suspects, to which he responded: “The authorities have this under, as I say, the strongest grip and the closest control, and I can assure you of that.”
The Gloucestershire site has been utilised by the US after Starmer granted the nation permission to use British bases for “defensive” strikes against Tehran amidst the Middle East conflict.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that the suspected plot “clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor”, but declined to elaborate further.
British investigators are believed to be probing Iran’s potential involvement in the plot.
However, its London embassy has vehemently denied any participation in the Gloucestershire incidents.
These comments follow reports that one of the five men arrested dialled 999 on himself in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Armed police swiftly arrived at the scene and apprehended the five suspects on suspicion of explosives and terrorist offences near the base.
A local farmer also rang 999 an hour later, having discovered three vans obstructing a road near RAF Fairford, but the police were already present.
Counter-terrorism police found a quantity of petrol, but no explosive devices were discovered in the vans that triggered the security alert.
Laurence Taylor, head of UK counter-terrorism, stated on Tuesday that a police response was initiated in the early hours of Sunday “due to a range of information that we received”.
He went on to say that the five suspects freed on bail “remain under investigation” and “must adhere to very strict conditions”.