US charges three 'Iranian operatives' in UK airbase plot

The United States government has indicted three men it claims were Iranian operatives involved in plotting an attack on a British airbase. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani are accused of planning and directing the September incident at RAF Fairford, a base frequently utilized by US forces in Iran-related operations.

According to a charging document, al-Hassani, an Iraqi national, directed others to drive fuel-laden vans to the base, while al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi already imprisoned for terrorism, reportedly transmitted coded messages to coordinate the plot. The trio allegedly procured metal objects for use as shrapnel and disguised their vehicles as legitimate fuel delivery services.

Following the incident, the US withdrew its B-1 bombers from the airbase. The eight-count indictment also alleges their participation in other plots supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the pro-Iranian Kataeb Hezbollah. In May, the US government charged al-Saadi for directing attacks against US and Israeli interests and planning 18 terrorist attacks across Europe and Canada.

The latest charges include conspiracy to provide material support to terrorist groups, conspiring to carry out acts of terrorism, and conspiring to bomb a public place. Al-Saadi faces an additional charge of attempting terrorism and arson. Additionally, two British men have been charged with national security offenses related to the RAF Fairford incident.

The US military has since withdrawn aircraft from another British base, RAF Mildenhall, allegedly due to a threat from Iran.