Tehran says the allegations are an attempt to cover up Britain\u2019s involvement in US-Israeli military operations against Iran<\/p>\n
Iran has rejected accusations of plotting to attack a UK airbase, describing them as part of a false-flag operation aimed at covering up Britain\u2019s involvement in the US war in the Middle East.
\nThe Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday after the UK government imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals amid allegations of an Iranian-backed terrorist plot targeting RAF Fairford in southwestern England, which hosts US bombers flying missions against Iran.
\nThe ministry said the allegations were aimed at \u201cadvancing an anti-Iran campaign and evading accountability for Britain\u2019s involvement in the US-Israeli military aggression against the Iranian people.\u201d
\n\u201cThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects the baseless accusations against Iran and holds the British government, along with those who planned and carried out this clumsy false-flag operation, responsible for all consequences arising from these fabrications,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
UK arrests two men for breaking into US intelligence hub<\/p>\n
British authorities have remained on high alert since local residents alerted police to suspicious vehicles near the base last month. Counterterrorism police have arrested seven men in connection with the suspected plot, including a dual British-Iranian national. All seven have since been released on bail pending further investigation.
\nAddressing Parliament on Monday, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was \u201chighly likely\u201d that Iran was behind the alleged plot and that it had \u201calmost certainly\u201d been directed by Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Foreign Office summoned the Iranian ambassador later that day.
\nThe UK imposed sanctions on Ruhollah Bazghandi, described as the head of the IRGC\u2019s counterespionage operations, and Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki, described as a \u201cfacilitator of the Zindashti criminal network, involved in several plots against Iranian dissidents.\u201d
\nTehran has previously accused Washington of using its confrontation with Iran to distract from domestic economic problems. In August, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that US President Donald Trump\u2019s threats of intensified economic warfare were intended to divert public attention from mounting national debt and rising interest costs. He described Washington\u2019s economic pressure campaign as \u201ceconomic terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tehran says the allegations are an attempt to cover up Britain\u2019s involvement in US-Israeli military operations against Iran Iran has rejected accusations of plotting to attack a UK airbase, describing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39754,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t