The United States Department of Justice has charged three alleged Iran-backed operatives over suspected plans to carry out attacks in the United States and Europe, including an alleged plot targeting the Royal Air Force base at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom.
The charges were announced after an indictment against the suspects was unsealed on Tuesday. They are Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani and dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi. According to the department, the suspects allegedly coordinated attacks in Europe under the name Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), described as a purportedly new group.
The DOJ said HAYI claimed responsibility for 18 attacks in Europe during the spring of 2026, including seven in the UK. The alleged attacks involved arson, explosives and a stabbing in London that left two Jewish men injured, one of whom holds dual US and British citizenship.
The FBI Director, Kash Patel, said the indictment demonstrated what he described as Iran’s determination to carry out attacks in Europe and the United States. He alleged that the suspects were involved in nearly 20 attempted attacks in support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah.
One of the accused, who is being held in a New York prison while awaiting trial on earlier charges, allegedly communicated coded messages to contacts in the UK to assist future acts of violence. The other two suspects are accused of coordinating activities from Iran.
Alleged Plot Targeting RAF Fairford
The DOJ linked the suspects to an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, on September 27, when three suspicious vans were discovered close to the military base. A major incident was declared after a local farmer spotted the vehicles in the early hours and alerted the police. Although no explosives were found, authorities seized a quantity of petrol.
According to the indictment, al-Hassani allegedly directed and paid associates in the UK to make preparations for the operation. The department said that on August 22, he paid an individual to conduct surveillance around the base’s perimeter. In September, he allegedly funded further preparations, including arranging vans and fuel barrels, researching chemical accelerants and purchasing metallic objects that could be used as explosive fragments.
The suspects allegedly disguised the vehicles to resemble those used by a fuel delivery company and a swimming pool supply business. On September 26, al-Hassani reportedly instructed associates to drive three vans towards RAF Fairford. The DOJ alleged that he remained in frequent contact with the drivers and helped direct their movements.
At least two of the vehicles reportedly encountered a security roadblock and were prevented from following their intended routes before they were discovered the following morning.
Iran Denies Involvement
Iran has strongly denied any connection to the RAF Fairford incident. Its embassy in London described allegations linking the country to the matter as unfounded and malicious speculation. Seven men have been arrested in the UK in connection with the incident, while two British nationals appeared in court last month over the alleged Iran-linked plot.
Following the incident, the United States withdrew its bombers from RAF Fairford. President Donald Trump cited security threats to the base as the reason for the withdrawal. RAF Fairford has hosted US Air Force operations for decades and has been used in recent months as a base for B-1 and B-52 bombers flying to the Middle East for what Washington described as defensive operations against Iran. In July, Iran warned that any military base used to launch attacks against its territory would be considered a legitimate target for its forces.
The US has charged three men accused of coordinating attacks in Europe, including an alleged operation targeting RAF Fairford in the UK. Iran has denied involvement in the incident, while investigations and legal proceedings involving several suspects continue.
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