29 nations condemn Iran over RAF Fairford terror plot, back UK attribution
Synopsis
In one of the broadest coordinated diplomatic rebukes of Iran in years, 29 nations — including the US, UK, France, Germany and Australia — formally backed Britain's finding that the IRGC orchestrated an attempted terrorist attack at RAF Fairford on 27 September. The joint condemnation also links the plot to a wider Iranian-backed campaign of arson, sabotage and cyberattacks targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists and US interests across Europe.
Key Takeaways
The United States and 28 allied governments released a joint statement on 12 October condemning Iran over the RAF Fairford terror plot.
Five British men were arrested in Whelford, Gloucestershire on 27 September on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act .
Britain attributed the plot to Iran's IRGC ; all 29 nations formally endorsed that attribution.
The statement also linked Iran to a broader European campaign targeting Jewish communities , Iranian journalists and US interests , attributed to the group HAYI .
The IRGC has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US since April 2019 .
Signatories pledged to investigate, disrupt and prosecute hostile activities and strengthen international coordination.
The United States and 28 allied governments have formally condemned Iran over an alleged attempted terrorist attack at RAF Fairford, backing Britain's assessment that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was behind the 27 September incident. The joint statement, released by the US State Department on Monday, 12 October, marks one of the broadest coordinated diplomatic rebukes of Iranian covert operations in recent years.
What Happened at RAF Fairford
British Counter Terrorism Policing stated on 28 September that five British men were arrested in Whelford, Gloucestershire, after reports of three vehicles travelling towards the RAF Fairford airbase in the early hours of 27 September. The five were detained on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act. Arrest does not establish guilt.
Britain subsequently attributed the plot to the IRGC, citing the Corps' established pattern of conducting hostile activities outside Iran through covert networks and proxy actors. The allied statement formally endorsed that attribution.
What the Joint Statement Said
The statement declared: 'We recognize the United Kingdom's attribution of Iran's involvement in the incident at RAF Fairford on 27 September.'
The signatories condemned a range of activities they attributed to Iran, including lethal plotting, arson, sabotage, cyberattacks and other covert operations targeting allied nations and their partners. They made clear that attempts to threaten, intimidate, silence, harass, harm or coerce individuals on their territories — whether through proxies or other means — were unacceptable.
The warning was explicitly extended to any party carrying out hostile activities on behalf of Iran or another state actor. The governments collectively pledged to identify, investigate, disrupt and prosecute such acts.
Broader Pattern of Iranian Activity in Europe
Beyond Fairford, the statement referenced a recent campaign of attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists and US interests. Those attacks were attributed to a group identified by the acronym HAYI — Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya. The statement connected the Fairford plot to this wider pattern of Iranian-linked destabilisation across the continent.
Notably, the IRGC, including its Qods Force, was designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in April 2019, making Monday's multilateral endorsement a reinforcement of an existing US legal and policy position.
Countries That Signed the Statement
The 29 signatories represent a sweeping coalition spanning North America, Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Alongside the United States and Britain, the statement was signed by Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
What Happens Next
The governments have committed to strengthening international coordination, protecting targeted communities, safeguarding national sovereignty and holding those responsible to account. Analysts expect the statement to intensify diplomatic pressure on Tehran, though the precise mechanisms — whether sanctions, expulsions or other measures — were not specified in Monday's text. With the five arrested men still facing legal proceedings in Britain, the case is expected to remain a focal point of Western counter-terrorism diplomacy in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But statements alone have a limited track record of altering Iranian behaviour. The IRGC has been a designated foreign terrorist organisation since 2019, yet covert operations in Europe have, if anything, grown more frequent. What is new here is the explicit coalition breadth — Hungary and Ireland signing alongside the US and UK signals a hardening of European consensus. The real test is whether this statement is followed by concrete measures: sanctions, expulsions, or coordinated legal action. Without enforcement teeth, Tehran has little reason to recalibrate.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the RAF Fairford incident on 27 September?
British Counter Terrorism Policing reported that five British men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on 27 September after three vehicles were spotted travelling towards the airbase. They were detained on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act, with Britain subsequently attributing the plot to Iran's IRGC. Arrest does not establish guilt.
Why did 29 countries issue a joint statement condemning Iran?
The 29 nations issued the statement to formally endorse Britain's attribution of the RAF Fairford plot to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and to signal collective condemnation of a broader pattern of Iranian covert operations in Europe. The statement cited lethal plotting, arson, sabotage and cyberattacks targeting allied nations.
What is HAYI and how is it connected to Iran?
HAYI stands for Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, a group the joint statement linked to a recent campaign of attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists and US interests. The statement placed HAYI's activities in the context of broader Iranian hostile operations, though it did not specify the precise organisational relationship.
Which countries signed the joint statement against Iran?
The 29 signatories include the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and a wide group of European Union members including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and others. The full list spans Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
What action is being taken against Iran following the statement?
The governments pledged to identify, investigate, disrupt and prosecute hostile activities linked to Iran, and committed to strengthening international coordination. However, the joint statement did not announce specific new sanctions or expulsions; concrete enforcement steps are expected to be announced separately by individual governments.
