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Iran on Monday denied any involvement in the suspected bomb plot near Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, saying speculation linking it to the five men arrested near the base would only "fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the U.K."
The denial came as counterterrorism police said the five suspects, arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, are all British nationals aged 23 to 25 who live in inner London.
RAF Fairford is the only base on Britain's mainland used by U.S. bombers for operations against Iran, and Tehran has previously warned London against allowing it.
U.K. media reported that police were probing possible Iranian links.
"The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base," the embassy said on X.
"The circulation of such fabricated speculations, particularly in the aftermath of the criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people, will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the U.K.," it said.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to take appropriate legal measures, as necessary, to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to misleading and damaging media narratives," the statement added.
The suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, and a 24-year-old from Willesden, police said. They are being held on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and preparing a terrorist act, with custody extended until later Monday.
Overnight investigations have opened "multiple new lines of enquiry," police said.
"I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said in a statement.
"However, I ask that at this time, Counter Terrorism Policing are given the space to work carefully and clearly," she added.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the Labour Party conference in Liverpool the incident was "a reminder of the threats our country faces," adding: "We will act against the proxies of Iran."
He later declined to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the suspects had been under surveillance. "Beyond that, sorry to be disappointing, I'm not going to say anymore because it's a live investigation," Miliband said.
Trump said the suspects had been under investigation. "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them," he said.
Asked about an Iran connection, he appeared to nod.
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Britain allowed the U.S. in March to use Fairford for "specific defensive operations into Iran." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused London that month of "putting British lives in danger" by allowing its bases to be used against Iran.
In July, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target.
Local lawmaker Roz Savage called the incident "way too close a shave," crediting the farmer who alerted police.
Police said the cordon near RAF Fairford will be reviewed later Monday.
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