Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed allegations by the UK prime minister that Iran played a role in an incident at RAF Fairford, accusing the British government of hypocrisy for releasing individuals allegedly working for foreign states while pointing the finger at Tehran.
Araghchi made the remarks in a post on his X account in response to Andy Burnham’s claim that there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident.
“PM Burnham says the UK Government ‘can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part’ in the RAF Fairford incident,” Araqchi wrote.
“I can confirm Iran’s belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all,” the Iranian foreign minister added.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree,” he reminded the UK.
His message came after Burnham said the UK government believed Iran had played a part in the incident at RAF Fairford, without providing details to substantiate the allegation.
Five men were arrested in connection with the incident and later released on bail under what Burnham described as the “strictest possible bail conditions.”
The men were arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning after police were alerted to “three suspicious vehicles” in Whelford, a village which lies directly east of the base.
They are all UK nationals aged between 23 and 25. Four of them live in Westminster and one in Camden, and searches of their homes are now complete.
The RAF base has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force for decades.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)