Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador in Tehran on Thursday to protest allegations of Iranian involvement in a suspected plot near RAF Fairford, a British base used by US bombers for strikes on Iran. Deputy Foreign Minister Takht Ravanchi rejected the allegations as baseless and demanded an official British explanation and a change in its approach, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday there were “strong indications that Iran played a part” in the incident, while stressing that a complex and serious police investigation remained underway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected that assertion, pointing to the suspects’ release on bail: “I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.”

Five British men aged 23 to 25 who live in London were arrested Sunday on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act, then released Monday. Police found petrol but no improvised explosive devices in three vehicles searched near the base. The men remain under investigation with strict restrictions on their movements and contacts. Burnham defended their release, saying they faced “the strictest possible bail conditions.”