UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday that last month’s alleged terror plot targeting a British air base was “almost certainly” directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as he announced fresh sanctions against two Iranian men.
Addressing Parliament, Burnham said the UK assessment was that the alleged plot, which led to five arrests on suspicion of terror offenses, was highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran.
“I can confirm our assessment that it is highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard,” he told MPs.
“We will not tolerate these threats on our soil. We will crack down on Iran’s use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams.
“And we will bring further sanctions to restrict the capacity of Iran and the IRGC to do us harm.”
In late September, a major security incident occurred at RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire airbase used by the US Air Force. The incident triggered a large-scale counter-terrorism investigation.
Separately, the UK government also announced that it summoned Iran’s ambassador for ongoing "malign activity."
“Iran’s continued attempts to undermine the security of the United Kingdom and international partners through its criminal networks, proxy groups and state-backed malign activity is unacceptable," Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement.
"This Government will never waiver in our commitment to tacking Iran’s unacceptable actions and protecting our national security. We have already designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under our new state threats powers," he added.
Britain has also imposed sanctions on two Iranian men, including an asset freeze and a ban on entering the UK.
'We stand with Saudi Arabia against the Houthis'
Burnham also addressed the escalating situation involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, saying he had discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“In my meeting with President Trump, we discussed the situation in the Middle East. I confirmed Britain's decision to send air defense and a Voyager aircraft to Saudi Arabia to provide air-to-air refueling support," he said.
"I can confirm today it has already completed 14 operational missions. This support is needed to protect civilians. I condemn the appalling attacks on the King Khalid International Airport. We will continue to stand with Saudi Arabia against the Houthis,” he added.
No reopening 2016 Brexit referendum
Burnham also ruled out reopening the Brexit referendum or revising his government's manifesto commitments on relations with the EU, while advocating closer cooperation with the bloc to boost economic growth and address migration.
He also said he respected the result of the 2016 referendum, in which Britain voted to leave the EU, but argued that pragmatic cooperation with European partners could serve the country's interests.
"I am not reopening the referendum. I respect the referendum result," he said.
Burnham said his government would pursue opportunities to strengthen the British economy and improve cooperation to tackle migrant boat crossings in the English Channel.
"The deal that I've inherited coming into office represents an opportunity to secure progress on both of those things," he said, adding that rejecting such opportunities would be "a dereliction of duty from any member of this House," he noted.
‘It’s a conversation we must have’
Ahead of next month's UK-EU summit, Burnham called for discussions on the future relationship between Britain and the bloc, saying closer ties could help promote growth, control migration, and strengthen security.
"If we are serious about promoting growth, controlling migration, upholding our values and our security, it is a conversation we must have," he said.
However, Burnham ruled out rejoining the EU single market or customs union or restoring freedom of movement, citing commitments in Labour's 2024 general election manifesto.
Mentioning what he “can’t do” to improve growth in the UK, he said: “I also want to maintain trust in politics. And I'm afraid I'm not prepared to revisit the red lines in our manifesto.”
The manifesto pledged to keep Britain outside the EU while seeking to reset relations and deepen ties with European partners.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of attempting to distract the public by raising claims of Russian interference in the 2016 referendum.
She questioned whether he considered the referendum result legitimate and called on Burnham to publish evidence if he believes Russia influenced the outcome.
"This is lazy thinking from people who don't have solutions to the real problems we face," Badenoch said.
But Burnham accused the Conservatives of being "in denial about, and not open to seeing, how we can move forward to a better position for the country."
He said public opinion in Britain has shifted in favor of a different approach to relations with the EU, while insisting that his government would respect its existing commitments.
