Cypriot authorities arrested a British citizen on suspicion of conducting espionage for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at British military bases on the island, according to reports. The suspect is accused of monitoring the bases and sharing intelligence with Tehran, and faces possible extradition and prosecution under the United Kingdom's National Security Law.
Cypriot authorities have formally accused a British citizen arrested earlier today of spying for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at British military bases on the island, and the suspect now faces possible extradition to the United Kingdom for prosecution under the UK's National Security Law, according to reports. The development updates the initial report by the BBC earlier this morning (Friday, 10:09 Jerusalem) that a British citizen had been detained at a UK base in Cyprus.
The case first emerged at 10:09 Jerusalem on Friday, when the BBC reported the arrest of a British citizen on suspicion of spying for the IRGC at a British military base in Cyprus. At 11:06 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Cypriot authorities had also arrested a second suspect — a 44-year-old man with British and Azerbaijani citizenship — on suspicion of operating espionage equipment at the Royal Air Force base Akrotiri more than a year ago. The two arrests appear to be linked to the same investigation.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United Kingdom. As The Zioneer reported on July 14, the UK officially designated the IRGC as a national security threat, criminalizing support for the organization. Last week, The Zioneer reported that Iranian officials had threatened Britain over alleged US military flights from British-controlled bases, including those in Cyprus. The island hosts British sovereign bases that have been a focus of Iranian intelligence activity.
The identity of the British citizen arrested has not been disclosed, and the full scope of the alleged espionage remains unclear. The investigation is ongoing.
3 developments
- StrongKnesset employee suspected of spying for Iran
- StrongUK says forces ready to defend country after IRGC threatens bases
- StrongUK designates Iran's IRGC as national security threat, criminalizes support
- DevelopingTelegraph: Iran infiltrates secret agents into UK under guise of migrants, IRGC awaits orders
Source and signal
- Open-source intake