🔻Iran summons UK ambassador in protest over allegation of involvement in the Farford incident

Iran has summoned Hugo Shorter, the British ambassador in Tehran, in protest at statements by British officials about the possible role of the Islamic Republic in the incident at the Farford air base.

According to Iranian media, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, deputy political minister of foreign affairs, on Thursday conveyed to the British ambassador in a meeting “the highest level of Tehran’s protest.”

Mr. Takht-Ravanchi described the allegation of an Iranian link to a possible sabotage plot at the Farford air base as “unfounded,” and rejected it.

On Wednesday, Britain’s prime minister had said that there were “strong indications” of Iran’s role in what took place over the weekend at the Royal Air Force base at Farford, although he emphasized that the police investigation was continuing and that Britain is cooperating with the United States on the matter.

In response to these remarks, Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister, wrote on the X social media platform: “I can also confirm that, from Iran’s perspective, freeing people who are said to be terrorists affiliated with foreign governments speaks for itself. You are looking for the culprit in the wrong place.”

The five men who were detained in connection with the case and then released on bail are all British citizens and residents of London. British police said that the investigation into the case