Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the British Ambassador to Iran, Hugo Shorter, over his government's "baseless" claim that Iran was involved in an alleged attack plot targeting a British air base.
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According to a statement from the ministry, the British ambassador was summoned by the Director General for Western European Affairs at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Alireza Yousefi, a day after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that it was "highly likely" that Iran was involved in last month's incident at Royal Air Force Fairford Base.
During the meeting, Yousefi conveyed Iran's strong protest against the UK's "irresponsible and destructive" approach toward his country, and categorically rejected the British government's "baseless" anti-Iran claims.
He added that "by shifting blame and making baseless accusations," British officials cannot avoid accountability for Britain's participation in the US-Israeli military "aggression" against Iran and for its years of harboring anti-Iran "terrorist" groups and individuals.
He urged the British government to immediately hand over documents and evidence supporting its anti-Iran accusations.
Otherwise, Tehran will seriously reconsider its relations with London, and the British government will be held responsible for it.
Shorter confirmed he would convey Iran's protest to his country's officials, according to the statement.
On September 27, British police arrested five people, all in their 20s, on suspicion of "explosives and terrorism-related offences" near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, after receiving information that three vans were seen heading towards the base, which the US has used to launch attacks against Iran.
The five were released on police bail the following day after items found in the vans and addresses linked to them in various locations in London were searched.
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