29 nations condemn Iran’s hostile activities, back UK claims over Fairford base

Twenty-nine countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, and Australia, have pledged to coordinate efforts to uncover, thwart, and prosecute activities they accuse Iran of orchestrating on their soil. The countries also voiced support for the UK’s findings regarding the incident at RAF Fairford airbase on September 27, amid accusations that Tehran uses covert networks and proxies to carry out attacks, sabotage, and cyber operations.

The position was outlined in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the signatory countries on Monday, in which they condemned in the “strongest terms” what they described as violent Iranian attacks, including “plots to carry out deadly operations, arson, sabotage, cyberattacks, and other hybrid activities” against their nations and partners.

The UK’s accusations regarding Fairford center on a suspected plot to target the Royal Air Force base, which is used by the United States to host long-range strategic bombers, including B-1 and B-52 aircraft.

As part of the investigation, British police arrested seven individuals, including a British national of Iranian descent, and found quantities of gasoline in three trucks linked to suspects, but no explosives were discovered. The US also withdrew its bombers from the base after the threat was detected.

The Associated Press quoted a US official as saying that the administration of President Donald Trump believed the plot aimed to “kill as many US troops as possible and destroy as many US aircraft as possible.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said London had “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident. The joint statement noted the signatory countries’ support for the UK’s conclusion that the event reflects the “continued willingness of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps” to conduct hostile activities beyond Iran’s borders through covert networks and proxies.

The accusations in the statement were not limited to the Fairford incident; it also referenced a “campaign of attacks” in Europe in recent months targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists, and US interests, noting that the “Islamic Right Movement” claimed responsibility for some of these attacks.

The 29 countries warned that any Iranian attempts to threaten, intimidate, or harass individuals on their territory—whether through proxies or other means—are “unacceptable.” They affirmed their commitment to continue exposing, investigating, thwarting, and prosecuting those responsible, stressing their “unity” in protecting sovereignty, enhancing international coordination, strengthening their ability to counter threats, and ensuring accountability.

For its part, Tehran denies any involvement in the Fairford incident but maintains that bases used to attack it are “legitimate targets.”