At least one of the five Iranian nationals arrested in the United Kingdom over the weekend in connection with an alleged terror plot has close ties to the Islamic Republic, The Telegraph reported citing an informed source.
The man, whose family reportedly owns prominent businesses in Iran, is described as “very well connected” to Tehran’s leadership.
His arrest was part of a coordinated national operation involving Counter Terrorism Policing and UK Special Forces that resulted in raids across several cities, including London, Rochdale, Manchester, Stockport, and Swindon, according to the Met Police.
Authorities believe the group was just hours away from launching an attack on what police described as a “specific premises.”
Four of the men, aged between 29 and 46, continue to be held under the Terrorism Act 2006 after police secured extended detention warrants. A fifth man, aged 24 and arrested in Manchester, has been released on conditional bail.
The potential involvement of the Iranian suspects in a plot marks a concerning shift in Iran’s tactics, which have typically relied on criminal proxies to carry out operations abroad.
This case, if confirmed, could point to a more direct engagement in overseas activities by Iranian nationals themselves.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said the investigation remains in its early stages but stressed its complexity and national scale.
“We are working incredibly hard, with public safety at the forefront of our ongoing efforts,” he said, urging the public to avoid speculation and report any suspicious activity.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised the work of security services, calling it one of the most significant counter-terrorism and counter-state threat operations in recent years.
