MI5 Warns Iran Expands Hostile Operations Against UK Military Sites
MI5 head Ken McCallum warned that Iran has expanded hostile operations in the UK, targeting military bases and Jewish sites, amid rising state threats.
The head of the British security service MI5, Ken McCallum, warned on Tuesday that Iran has significantly expanded its hostile activities in Britain over the past year, increasingly targeting "harder targets," including military facilities and bases. The remarks were made during McCallum's annual address on security threats facing the UK.
Expanding Iranian Ambitions
According to the MI5 chief, "a further significant shift in Iranian ambitions to act against harder targets, such as military sites, has occurred this year." He referred to a suspected plot targeting the Royal Air Force base Fairford, which was used by American bombers during strikes in Iran, stating that the incident "is not unique. There have been other examples, not just in Britain but around the world."
"A further significant shift in Iranian ambitions to act against harder targets, such as military sites, has occurred this year." — Ken McCallum
McCallum declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigation into the Fairford incident. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on Monday that it was "highly likely" Tehran was behind the plot, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps believed to be involved. Iran has denied any involvement in hostile activities in the UK.
Security Measures and Broader Threats
In late September, several suspects were arrested near the Fairford base after flammable material was found in three vehicles. Following the incident, a widespread security alert was declared, and the United States relocated bombers stationed there. Seven suspects arrested in the investigation were released on bail.
British security agencies also attribute plots targeting regime dissidents, as well as Jewish and Israeli targets, to Tehran and its proxies. Earlier this year, two individuals were charged with conducting surveillance for Iran targeting the Israeli embassy in London, a synagogue, and community institutions.
Escalation and State Threats
In July, the British government imposed sanctions on an organization linked to Iran after it claimed responsibility for seven attacks against sites connected to Jewish and Israeli communities and Persian-language media. Incidents included the arson of four ambulances belonging to the Jewish rescue organization Hatzalah in Golders Green, London.
McCallum noted that the scale of threats from hostile states has quadrupled over the past decade. He stated that MI5 now allocates more resources to countering such threats than it did during the Cold War. While Russia remains "aggressor number one," the surge in Iranian activity has made Tehran one of the primary challenges for British security services.
