London: Man arrested on suspicion of spying on British base in Cyprus on behalf of Iran

London, July 31 (KUNA) -- British authorities announced on Friday that a man holding both British and Azerbaijani citizenship was arrested on suspicion of spying on a British base in Cyprus on behalf of Iran. In a statement, British authorities said Rashad Sultanov, 40, faces espionage charges related to spying on the Royal Air Force’s Akrotiri base in Cyprus, noting that local authorities carried out the arrest on July 17. The British Public Prosecution Service stated that Sultanov, who resides in north London, will be prosecuted under the UK’s National Security Act, a legislative framework designed to counter “threats from hostile states,” including espionage. Akrotiri base was previously targeted by a drone attack last March, an incident for which the Cypriot administration claimed Iran was responsible. (End)