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The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has indicted three Iranian-backed operatives for planning and executing a series of plots in the United States and Europe.
The Justice Department said Iranian agents had recently "planned a terrorist plot against a British air base" and said they were involved in a "major incident" last September near RAF Fairford, where U.S. troops were stationed.
A man with dual Iranian-Iraqi citizenship is accused of keeping in touch with contacts in the UK while he was in a New York prison awaiting trial in a separate case. Two others were charged with carrying out the same activities in Iran.
Iran has strongly denied any involvement in the incident at RAF Fairford. The incident came to light when someone reported seeing a suspicious truck near the base. Seven men have been arrested in the UK over the incident.
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The U.S. Department of Justice said Iranian Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi citizen Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, and Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian and Iraqi citizen, were charged in an indictment unsealed on Tuesday (November 10).
The indictment accuses the three of planning attacks in Europe and carrying them out in the name of an allegedly newly formed group. The group's pseudonym is Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI; "Right-Hand People's Islamic Movement").
"In the spring of 2026, seven of the 18 terrorist attacks claimed by HAYI in Europe occurred in the United Kingdom," the Ministry of Justice statement said, adding that the attacks included "arson, explosives attacks, and a near-fatal knife attack in London involving two Jewish men, one of whom held dual U.S. and British citizenship."
Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, in April. One suspect is due to stand trial next year.
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"This eight-count indictment demonstrates Iran's determination to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States," said FBI Director Kash Patel.
He added that one of the defendants "is suspected of sending encrypted messages to facilitate future acts of violence" while in custody.
Patel said the defendants were suspected of participating in nearly 20 attempted attacks in support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah.
On September 27, authorities declared a "major incident" after three suspicious trucks were spotted near Royal Air Force Fairford Base in the Cotswolds region of Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire), England.
Police found no explosives in the truck but seized a large amount of gasoline.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Hassani "allegedly directed and paid associates in the United Kingdom" in August to "conduct preliminary preparations and arrange logistics for a terrorist plot targeting RAF Fairford."
The Justice Department said that on August 22, Hassani paid a person to "conduct pre-operational reconnaissance around RAF Fairford Base."
The Justice Department also alleges that during September, Hassani paid multiple individuals to assist him in preparing for the conspiracy.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Justice, related actions included "the purchase of trucks and fuel barrels, research into purchasing chemical accelerants, including large amounts of potassium chloride, and the purchase of metal objects that can be used as explosive shrapnel."
The suspects then disguised the trucks as vehicles belonging to a fuel distribution company and a swimming pool supply company, the Justice Department said.
The statement pointed out: "On September 26, 2026, Hassani allegedly instructed relevant individuals to drive three trucks to Royal Air Force Fairford Base, some of which were later confirmed to contain fuel barrels."
The Justice Department also said Hassani "maintained frequent contact" with truck drivers and helped direct them on their routes.
The statement added: "At least two of the three trucks encountered security roadblocks on their way to the area around RAF Fairford and were unable to follow their original route."
In the early morning of September 27, a local farmer who had just returned home from a party discovered these trucks and called the police for help.
The Iranian Embassy in London said that Iran "categorically denies and strongly condemns" claims linking Iran to the incident, calling it "baseless and malicious speculation."
Two British citizens appeared in court last month over their alleged involvement in the alleged Iran-linked plot.
After the incident, the United States withdrew all bombers stationed at Royal Air Force Fairford Base. U.S. President Donald Trump said the reason was because the base faced "some threats."
RAF Fairford has been used by the United States Air Force (USAF) for decades.
In recent months, the United States has dispatched B-1 and B-52 bombers from this base to the Middle East to carry out "defensive" strikes against Iran.
Iran said in July that "any base used to launch aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target of our military."
This article was originally written in English. We used artificial intelligence to assist in translation and was reviewed by BBC journalists before publication. Learn more about how we use artificial intelligence.
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