The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned British ambassador to Tehran Hugo Shorter over his government's "baseless" claim that Iran had been involved in a suspected plot targeting a British air base.
According to a statement from the ministry, the British envoy was summoned by Alireza Yousefi, director general for Western Europe at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, one day after Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was "highly likely" that Iran was involved in last month's incident at Royal Air Force Fairford.
During the meeting, Yousefi voiced Iran's strong protest against Britain's "irresponsible and destructive" approach toward his country, categorically rejecting the British government's "baseless" anti-Iran claim.
He added that "through resorting to projection and leveling unfounded accusations," British officials cannot evade accountability for Britain's participation in the US-Israeli military "aggression" against Iran and long-term hosting of anti-Iran "terrorist" groups and individuals.
He called on the British government to present the documents and evidence supporting its anti-Iran allegations as soon as possible. Otherwise, Tehran will seriously reconsider its relations with London, for which the British government will be responsible.
Shorter gave assurance that he would convey Iran's protest to his country's officials, said the statement.
On September 27, British police detained five people, all in their 20s, on suspicion of "explosives and terrorism offenses" near the Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, after being informed that three vans had been seen heading to the base, which the United States has used to launch strikes against Iran.
The individuals were all released on police bail the next day after an examination of what was found in the vans and of the addresses linked to them across London. Police said they found gasoline in their vans, but no explosives, local media reported.