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The development comes five days after two men appeared in a London court, charged under Britain’s National Security Act in connection with the security incident.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also said that it had classified Britain’s MI6 as a “hostile group.” (Image: News18 Media Gallery)
Over a month after a security incident at the UK’s RAF Fairford air base, which British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said involved Iran, the Islamic Republic has reportedly designated Britain’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (RAF) as “terrorist organisations”.
The development comes five days after two men appeared in a London court, charged under Britain’s National Security Act in connection with the security incident. Prosecutors alleged that one of the men had attempted to assist Iranian intelligence operations, Reuters reported.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced the designation on Sunday, according to reports. It also reportedly classified Britain’s intelligence agency MI6 as a “hostile group”, Iran International reported.
Tehran described the move against the British naval and air forces as a reciprocal measure following Washington’s decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
Why Has Iran Targeted British Military Forces?
Iran cited what it described as Britain’s hostile actions over the past year. These included allowing US forces to use military and logistical facilities on British territory during the war and placing the IRGC under the UK’s State Threats Act in July.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also said MI6 would be dealt with under Iranian legislation concerning espionage involving Israel and other countries.
What Happened At RAF Fairford?
RAF Fairford was used by US bombers to launch strikes against Iran. However, the aircraft were withdrawn on security grounds after several British men were arrested outside the base on September 27, Reuters reported.
Earlier this month, Burnham said the activity at the air base was likely to have been coordinated in Iran. Tehran’s ambassador to Britain rejected the allegation.
US-Iran War
The US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on February 28, killing then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior leaders.
Iran retaliated by targeting US and Israeli interests across the region and tightening its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route. The conflict has heightened concerns over regional security and global energy prices.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Iran stated that the designation of the Royal Navy and RAF was a reciprocal measure after Washington designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. Tehran also pointed to Britain’s hostile actions over the past year, which included allowing US forces to use military facilities on British soil and placing the IRGC under the UK’s State Threats Act.
Ask News18About the Author
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international d…Read More
November 01, 2026, 2:59 PM IST
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