UK Sanctions Two Iranian Nationals Over Airbase Plot

MI5 chief Ken McCallum said Iran is stepping up attempts to strike military sites in Britain. He made the remarks in his annual threat speech Tuesday.

• 50+ people arrested over Iran-linked plots in the past year, McCallum said.
• 3 vans near RAF Fairford held petrol but no explosives, police said.
• 7 men were arrested and released on bail; none has been charged.
• 2 Iranians were sanctioned Monday, including IRGC counterespionage chief Ruhollah Bazghandi.

Why it matters: McCallum said Iran has moved beyond its traditional targets in Britain toward harder ones like military bases. RAF Fairford hosts U.S. bombers used in strikes on Iran this year.

• The U.S. withdrew its bombers from Fairford after the incident.
• McCallum said Iran's UK proxies so far lack capacity for sophisticated attacks.

How 5 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage divides over whether the story is Iran's escalating threat and Britain's response, or the Labour government's handling of the suspects and its relations with Israel.

What’s next: Burnham said Britain will target Iran's criminal networks and their funding and impose more sanctions.

• Counterterror detectives continue investigating Fairford; McCallum declined to discuss specifics.
• What evidence links the Fairford suspects to the IRGC?
• Will any of the bailed suspects face charges?
• What role did Israeli intelligence play, as Benjamin Netanyahu claims?