US Charges Three Iran-Backed Operatives Over UK Airbase Plot

The US Department of Justice has leveled charges against three individuals accused of operating on behalf of Iran to coordinate a series of attacks across the United States and Europe. Among the accusations is the orchestration of a terrorist plot targeting a British airbase, which led to significant security concerns and the relocation of American military assets.

Authorities identified the charged men as Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, and Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, who holds dual citizenship in Iran and Iraq. According to the indictment, which was unsealed on Tuesday, these men are accused of working to advance the interests of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah.

A primary focus of the investigation involves a major security incident near the UK’s RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire. On 27 September, a local resident spotted three suspicious vans near the perimeter and alerted the police. While investigators found no explosives during subsequent searches, they recovered barrels of fuel and potential shrapnel-making materials. Seven individuals have already been arrested in the United Kingdom in connection with the event. A suspect is due to stand trial next year. But a quantity of petrol was seized, no explosive materials were found in the vans. This included “procuring vans and barrels of fuel, researching the purchase of chemical accelerants, including large quantities of potassium chloride, and purchasing metallic objects that could be used as explosive shrapnel”, according to its statement. That the vans were spotted by a local farmer who was heading home from a party, and called the police, it was in the very early hours of 27 September.

The DOJ alleges that al-Hassani directed and funded the logistics for this specific operation, including paying associates to conduct surveillance of the base’s perimeter as early as August. Prosecutors state that the group attempted to disguise their vehicles as legitimate service trucks, such as fuel or pool supply delivery units, to approach the installation on 26 September. Two of the three vans were ultimately blocked by security measures before they could reach their intended positions. On 22 August, al-Hassani paid one individual to “perform pre-operational surveillance of RAF Fairford’s perimeter”, the department said. According to the DOJ also, Al-Hassani was “in frequent communication” with the van drivers and helped to direct them where to drive.

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that the indictment demonstrates Iran’s ongoing commitment to inciting violence abroad, noting that the accused were involved in nearly 20 attempted attacks. One of the suspects, currently detained in a New York prison on separate charges, is accused of relaying instructions for further violent acts to contacts in the UK via coded messages.

The scope of the alleged plot extends beyond the airbase. The DOJ claims the suspects operated under the banner of a new group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI). This organization purportedly claimed responsibility for 18 terrorist attacks in Europe during the spring of 2026, seven of which occurred on British soil. These incidents reportedly included acts of arson, the use of explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, London, in April.

In response to the September incident at RAF Fairford, the United States withdrew all its bomber aircraft from the site.

President Donald Trump cited specific threats against the base as the primary reason for the removal. RAF Fairford has historically served as a critical hub for US Air Force operations, including the deployment of B-1 and B-52 bombers for defensive missions in the Middle East. Tensions have remained high since July, when Iranian officials publicly labeled any base utilized for aggression against their territory as a legitimate target. The US has flown B-1 and B-52 bombers from there to the Middle East for “defensive” strikes on Iran, in recent months.

The Iranian embassy in London has categorically denied any involvement, characterizing the allegations as unfounded and malicious speculation. Meanwhile, legal proceedings continue, with two British nationals appearing in court last month as part of the broader investigation into the alleged Iran-linked network.