Iranupdated 39m ago3 min read
Andy Burnham Says Iran’s IRGC Directed Fairford Air Base Threat, Announces Additional Sanctions
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Andy Burnham said the IRGC was highly likely to have coordinated the RAF Fairford incident. A joint statement by 29 countries affirmed London's conclusion of Iran's involvement in Fairford incident.
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Fairford incident, sanctions
British Prime Minister آندي بيرنام told the House of Commons that the security threat targeting the Fairford air base used by the U.S. military in its war against Iran was "almost certainly directed" by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and he said Britain would impose additional sanctions on Iran. آندي بيرنام said he had summoned the Iranian ambassador in response to the planned attack on the Fairford base, and he confirmed imposing sanctions on two Iranian nationals. آندي بيرنام said Britain issued legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Iran a week earlier, as part of efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear program and limit its other hostile activities.
آندي بيرنام said the measures would limit Iran's access to the British financial system, broaden the scope of the trade ban to include other goods, technologies, and services, and prevent Iranian aircraft from landing in Britain except in exceptional circumstances. آندي بيرنام also stated that Britain is committed to working to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons and to achieving peace in the Middle East and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Allies accuse, Tehran denies
A joint statement issued by 29 countries including Britain and the United States acknowledged London's findings about Iran's alleged involvement in the incident at the Royal Air Force base at Fairford, while Tehran strongly denied the accusation. The joint statement said any attempt by Iran to threaten, silence, intimidate, harass, harm, or coerce individuals within the territory of the signatory states, whether through proxies or by any other means, is unacceptable. Iran's agency said the Iranian ambassador in London rejected the accusation against Tehran in a meeting with the British Minister for the Middle East.
British Foreign Secretary إد ميليباند announced the summoning of the Iranian ambassador in London and said Tehran’s attempts to undermine Britain’s security and that of its partners through criminal networks and groups are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. NATO Secretary-General مارك روته welcomed the statement "Allies and Partners" and said the alliance will continue to protect the security of a billion people around the world.
Sanctions named, investigation continues
British Foreign Secretary إد ميليباند announced the inclusion of two Iranian citizens on the sanctions list for their role in hostile activities on behalf of the Iranian regime, and the sanctions were tied to the Fairford incident. The sanctions list named Ruhollah Bazghandi, described as a commander in the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, and Shahram Ali Reza Tamrzadeh Zavi Jaaki, described as a senior member of a criminal network carrying out operations on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. BBC reported that Iran's ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, said Tehran was not involved and was willing to cooperate with British authorities.
BBC said a huge police operation began after officers were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the base in the early hours of 27 September, and it said dozens of homes were evacuated in the nearby village of Whelford. BBC reported that so far a total of seven men, all in their 20s, had been arrested and later bailed in connection with the incident, and it said no one had been charged.