Iran Escalates Threats, Targeting Military Sites in UK and Beyond

Iran is actively attempting to organize attacks against military installations in the United Kingdom and other nations, according to the head of British counterintelligence agency MI5, Ken McCallum. Speaking on October 13 during his annual report on national security threats, McCallum stated that while Iran's intelligence services previously focused on opposition figures and Israel-linked targets abroad, military bases are now also under threat. Previously, Iranian intelligence employed criminal elements primarily for intimidation of opposition members and independent Iranian media, as well as for attacks on Israeli interests. However, Tehran has recently begun targeting more heavily defended locations, including military bases. One such potential target was Fairford Air Base in western England, used by the U.S. Air Force. In late September, British police investigated a suspected plot against the base, leading to the evacuation of dozens of local residents and the withdrawal of U.S. bombers due to the threat. McCallum indicated that the Fairford incident was not isolated, with similar cases reported in other countries, including the Middle East. Over the past year, British authorities have detained over 50 individuals in operations related to alleged Iranian intelligence activities. McCallum also accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of involvement in arson and sabotage targeting Jewish communities in the UK and other European countries. Separately, he warned about the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence, noting that terrorists are already exploring its use for attack planning, and that AI could facilitate the creation of biological weapons, including new dangerous pathogens, in the future.