A US prosecutor has charged an Iranian national with plotting to attack the RAF Fairford airbase in the UK while incarcerated in the United States. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national, is accused of using phone calls to family members to coordinate with two other alleged Iranian-backed operatives. The plot was foiled before it could be carried out.
Al-Saadi was extradited to the US in May over charges linked to more than 20 other terror attacks. Prosecutors allege he used his time in prison to plan the attack. The US Justice Department identified him as the mastermind behind the alleged plot. The RAF Fairford base has been used by the US military in operations against Iran.
The incident occurred in September. Police were called to the site after a local farmer reported suspicious activity. The US claims the plot was part of a broader effort to target US interests in the UK. Al-Saadi had previously pleaded not guilty to eight criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism.
This follows a pattern of alleged Iranian-backed militant activity targeting Western interests. The US has previously charged other individuals linked to Iran in similar plots. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Iran and the West, particularly regarding security and military operations.
The charges come amid broader US efforts to counter perceived Iranian threats. The US has also imposed sanctions on Iranian entities linked to nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The incident underscores the complex relationship between Iran and its neighbors, as well as the international community.
