UK recalls Iranian ambassador over suspected terror plot
The UK Foreign Secretary announces the recall of the Iranian ambassador and imposes sanctions on Iranian officials over suspicions of a terror plot.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband summoned the Iranian ambassador to reaffirm that “Britain will not tolerate any threats on its soil,” following suspicions of a terrorist plot near RAF Fairford, a base operated by the U.S. military in Britain.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had stated there were “strong indications” of Iran’s involvement in the incident, according to British Press Association (BA Media) reports.
Miliband also announced the inclusion of two Iranian nationals on the sanctions list for their involvement in hostile activities on behalf of the Iranian regime.
The minister clarified that Rouhollah Bazargani, head of counter-espionage operations at Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Shahram Ali Reza Tamrazadeh Jaki, responsible for logistical support for the “Zandishti” criminal network, are now subject to immediate asset freezes, travel bans, and prohibitions on managing companies.
In a statement issued on Monday, Miliband said: “Iran’s ongoing attempts to undermine the security of the United Kingdom and international partners through its criminal networks, proxy groups, and state-sponsored malicious activities are unacceptable.”
He added: “As we have repeatedly made clear to Iran, Britain will not tolerate any threats on its soil. My ministers have today instructed the summoning of the Iranian ambassador to the UK to convey this message in its full significance.”
He continued: “We are also announcing the inclusion of two Iranian nationals on the sanctions list for their involvement in facilitating or carrying out hostile activities on behalf of the Iranian regime, with the clear intent of threatening, planning, or launching attacks abroad.”
Burnham said: “This government will never waver in its commitment to confronting Iran’s unacceptable practices and protecting our national security. We have already designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under our new powers to counter state threats and have imposed stringent sanctions on those responsible for Iran’s malicious activities.”
Burnham hinted at the possibility of imposing further sanctions on Tehran following its role in the incident at the Royal Air Force base at Fairford.
Speaking to members of Parliament on Monday, he added: “I can confirm our assessment that it is highly probable that the operation was coordinated from within Iran, with almost certain direct oversight by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
He emphasized: “We will not tolerate these threats on our territory. We will escalate our confrontation with Iran’s exploitation of criminal networks, use all our powers to target these networks and their funding sources, and impose additional sanctions to limit Iran’s and the IRGC’s ability to harm us.”
