MI5 chief warns Iran is targeting military sites in UK as hostile state threats surge

The head of the UK's domestic intelligence service, Ken McCallum, has warned of a major shift in Iran's attack tactics against British military bases. According to McCallum, Iranian state-backed threats against the UK have surpassed terrorism and extremist activity. In the past 12 months, more than 50 arrests have been made in relation to Iran-linked operations, with Iranian ambitions to target harder targets, such as military sites, becoming a major concern.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that Tehran is highly likely to be behind a suspected plot against RAF Fairford, which had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran since the conflict began in February. This incident led to a security alert, prompting US President Donald Trump to withdraw planes from the air base.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with this plot, and two more suspects were arrested last week at RAF Molesworth base in Cambridgeshire, a site known to be used by US intelligence agencies. McCallum warned that Iran has the capability to employ more conventional and hybrid technology, posing an even greater threat to the UK.

Iran has previously attempted attacks at UK bases in Diego Garcia and Akrotiri. The UK has prosecuted numerous individuals for carrying out attacks on Jewish sites and dissidents within the country. In his annual report, McCallum highlighted that all state threats, including those from Russia and China, have quadrupled, with interconnected financial systems, energy grids, supply chains, and manufacturing bases being vulnerable to disruption and coercion by foreign actors.

EU Foreign Affairs Minister Kaja Kallas expressed solidarity with the British government, emphasizing that Iran's campaign of intimidation and chaos extends beyond the Middle East and that the EU has designated the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.