Story perspectives

UK Blames Iran’s IRGC, Freezes Assets Over Fairford Plot

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 10:02 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband blamed Iran’s IRGC for the RAF Fairford plot.
They summoned Iran’s ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi to reiterate Britain’s intolerance of threats.
The UK froze assets, imposed travel bans and barred Ruhollah Bazghandi and Shahram Tamarzadeh Jakki.
Police found petroleum accelerants in the vans but no explosives on 27 September 2026.
The United States withdrew B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, leaving B-52s in place.

History

Historical Context

In May 2018 President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA and reinstated all sanctions, beginning a “maximum-pressure” campaign that later hit over 1,500 Iranian entities and froze about $100 billion abroad. In September 2026 British officials Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband summoned Iran’s ambassador, froze assets of several Iranian businessmen and barred IRGC operatives, continuing the Western pattern of financial pressure on Tehran.

1 of 2

Story summary

Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband blamed Iran’s IRGC for the RAF Fairford plot.
They summoned Iran’s ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi to reiterate Britain’s intolerance of threats.
The UK froze assets, imposed travel bans and barred Ruhollah Bazghandi and Shahram Tamarzadeh Jakki.
Police found petroleum accelerants in the vans but no explosives on 27 September 2026.
The United States withdrew B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, leaving B-52s in place.

1 / 2