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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on late Wednesday dismissed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's claim that Iran played a part in the RAF Fairford incident, pointing to the release of the five suspects on bail.
"You're barking up the wrong tree," Araghchi wrote on X.
Burnham earlier said there were "strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford," the first official U.K. link between Tehran and the incident.
The exchange escalates tensions between London and Tehran over a base used by U.S. bombers in the war against Iran, while key facts remain unclear: police found no explosives, and a report says one suspect may have called police himself.
"PM Burnham says the UK Government 'can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part' in the RAF Fairford incident," Araghchi wrote.
"I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You're barking up the wrong tree," the top Iranian diplomat added.
Iran's embassy in London had earlier said it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" speculation linking Tehran to the incident.
"There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation," Burnham told the BBC.
He declined to explain the basis for the government's assessment.
"We will say more in due course, but we can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part," he said, adding, "Obviously I wouldn't say it lightly."
Burnham said Britain had been in contact with U.S. counterparts all week and that he had "complete confidence in the way British security services are handling this."
He added that he "wouldn't hesitate" to recall Parliament if necessary.
Police said Tuesday they found no explosive devices in the three vans, only a quantity of petrol, and defended releasing the five British men on bail.
The Times reported that one of the five suspects had called police shortly before the group was arrested. Police had said they first received a call about 50 minutes before a local farmer's 999 call.
"Whether it was surveillance, a 'dry run' to test security or a stunt to send a message to the British government are all under consideration," The Times said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said, "The UK did release a number of people that we caught wanting to blow up a base, we caught them early, and I'm trying to figure out if that's for real that they actually did. Maybe they did it for a reason."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the RAF Fairford incident "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor," without naming a country.
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