Two British nationals charged under National Security Act over alleged Iran-linked plot at RAF Fairford

British prosecutors announced on Tuesday that two London-based men have been charged under the National Security Act in connection with an alleged plot linked to Iran at the RAF Fairford airbase. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, faces a charge of conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, while Nouman Essghir, 24, is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. Both are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later on Tuesday, and five additional suspects continue to be held on police bail.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of national counter-terrorism policing, said police believe the foreign intelligence service involved was Iran. > “We have seen a range of incidents in recent months that we believe have been directed by the Iranian state, and as the director general of MI5 said just the other week, we are working together to intervene, identify and respond to that threat.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the suspected plot as “almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard,” a claim Iran has denied. U.S. President Donald Trump praised the arrests, stating the United States had cooperated with Britain and that the suspects were planning “big damage” to the base. He added, “We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”

Following the arrests, the United States relocated its long-range bombers from RAF Fairford, citing an unspecified threat. Vice President JD Vance said the move was made “out of an abundance of caution,” without providing further details.