Burnham says Iran's Revolutionary Guards 'almost certainly' behind RAF Fairford threats
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told parliament that the incident at RAF Fairford, a base used by the US air force, was highly likely coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. New sanctions on Tehran will follow.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told parliament on Monday that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was "almost certainly" behind threats to RAF Fairford, a base in England also used by the US air force. It is the firmest attribution the British government has made so far for an incident in late September, and it comes with a pledge of further sanctions against Tehran and the IRGC.
Burnham told MPs the government's assessment was that the episode was highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the Revolutionary Guards. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is due to give an update with more information.
What happened at Fairford
Five men from London drove three white vans to Whelford, a village next to the base, shortly after midnight on 27 September. They were released on police bail a day later, as no bombs or explosives had been found.
A week later the US withdrew 12 B-1 bombers from the base. Reports said Washington was concerned about a possible drone attack on a site that had been used to strike Iran during the Middle East war in the spring and summer.
Questions remain
Burnham's remarks go further than before. In the days after the incident he had spoken of "strong indications" of Iranian involvement. Even so, it remains unclear what the authorities believe actually took place at Fairford. Some experts have speculated it was a "feint" meant to show that Iran could, in theory, attack a relatively open site.
British sources have repeatedly said Iran lacks the capability for a sophisticated drone attack. The incident nevertheless appears to have unnerved the US, which is worried about the security of its bases in Europe.
