Iran summons UK envoy over ‘baseless’ linking of Tehran to alleged airbase sabotage bid

Iran has summoned Britain's ambassador to Tehran to protest against baseless accusations linking Tehran to an alleged incident at a British airbase and to demand that London answer for its participation in military aggression against Iran, the foreign ministry said.

Hugo Shorter, Britain's ambassador to Tehran, was summoned on Thursday by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi following accusations by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham against Iran, the ministry said in a statement.

"The recent propaganda campaign by the British government, which has made baseless accusations under the pretext of an alleged sabotage attempt at Fairford airbase, cannot in any way overshadow Britain's complicity in the military aggression against the Iranian people," Takht-Ravanchi said.

During the meeting, Takht-Ravanchi stressed Britain's international responsibility for multiple unlawful actions against the Iranian people, particularly the provision of military bases and facilities under British jurisdiction for the preparation and implementation of US-Israeli military aggression against Iran.

"The British government must be held accountable for its participation in the crime of aggression and the war crimes committed by the United States and the Zionist regime," he added.

Takht-Ravanchi dismissed as “baseless and contemptible” the British officials' claim linking the alleged sabotage plot to Iran, and underscored the need for an official explanation from the British government and a correction of its inappropriate approach toward Iran, IRNA reported.

The British ambassador said he would convey Iran's protest to London.

The summon follows an alleged incident on Sunday near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, after police received reports of three suspicious vehicles near the airbase.

Five British nationals were allegedly arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act, but were subsequently released on bail and remain under investigation.

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel had supplied Britain with intelligence warning of an "Iranian-sponsored attack" before the Fairford incident.

"We gave the Brits the intel that there was going to be an attack, and it's an Iranian-sponsored attack, and pretty much the next day they slapped sanctions on us," Netanyahu said.  

Prime Minister Burnham echoed the claims on Wednesday, claiming that there were indications of Iranian involvement in the incident, although he did not provide any evidence.

Asked on what basis Iran had been linked to the incident, Burnham said he could not go into details.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rebuked the British government over the accusation.

"The fact that you released the people whom, according to you, were terrorists and working for foreign governments makes everything clear. You are looking for the culprit in the wrong place."

Netanyahu’s admission is notable given Israel's long-documented history of staging trumped-up incidents to implicate Iran — a record that makes the suggestion of fabrication in the Fairford episode more plausible.

Against that backdrop, Israel's acknowledged role points to an effort to influence Britain's new leadership and rally it against Iran through yet another false-flag scenario.

Under the previous British government, RAF Fairford was used by the United States for military aggression in the region. Britain authorized Washington in March to use the base for specific attacks against Iranian missiles.

US bombers and other military aircraft have subsequently been seen operating from the base, which is the only facility on mainland Britain used by the United States for this purpose.

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