Six men arrested over an alleged terror plot near the British airbase RAF Fairford have been released on bail, including a British-Iranian national, as a counter-terrorism operation continues.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham publicly tied Iran to the incident, saying there were “strong indications” Tehran had played a role. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied the allegation.
US President Donald Trump gave the clearest indication yet that Washington believes Iran was involved, saying: “We actually know the people who made the threat.” He has quietly ordered the nation’s entire bomber fleet moved out of the UK.
US Vice-President JD Vance added: “We do feel with some confidence that the Iranians are … trying to do what the Iranian state has done for 49 years, which is engage in acts of terrorism against the United States and against a lot of other people as well.”
Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council specialising in grey zone conflict, said the suspected plot was “really alarming and troubling”. Ms Braw said the scenario helps explain why Britain was hesitant to allow the US military to use its bases. “The government felt that having the US use UK military bases for its operations in the war would indirectly draw Britain into the war,” she said. “There is a risk of terrorist incidents around military installations.”
Allied vulnerability is a concern for other US partners. Emma Shortis, director of the International and Security Affairs Program at the Australia Institute, noted that Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates have already experienced attacks because of their alliances with the US.