Iran denies involvement in bomb scare near UK air base used by US

Iran’s embassy in London said Monday it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” speculation that Tehran was involved in a bomb scare near a UK military air base used by the United States.

In an X post, the embassy criticized “the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran” to the incident early Sunday near the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base.

Five men, all British nationals in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses after police were alerted to three white vans traveling toward the air base. UK counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation.

Bomb disposal specialists were called to examine the vehicles and authorities evacuated around 85 nearby households as a precaution.

RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire in southwest England, hosts US military aircraft and has been used by US bombers to carry out strikes against Iran during the ongoing war.

British authorities have not publicly established a motive or identified any connection between the suspects and Iran. Officials said the investigation remained at an early stage.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the suspects had been seeking to cause “big damage” and that British and US authorities had been investigating them.