The British government accuses a British-Azerbaijani citizen of spying on a military base in Cyprus and providing information to the Iranian regime
The accusation is particularly significant due to the history of threats and operations attributed to Iran against Western interests. The IRGC, a central organization of the Iranian regime's military apparatus, recently threatened to attack British military bases used by U.S. forces to launch operations against Iran.
The United Kingdom requested the extradition of a citizen with dual British and Azerbaijani nationality accused of conducting espionage against a British military base on the Mediterranean island and transmitting information to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC). The case represents a new sign of concern in London regarding intelligence activities linked to the Iranian regime and its security agencies.
The suspect was identified as Rashad Sultanov, 44 years old and residing in Islington, north of London. He is currently detained by Cypriot authorities while procedures are underway to determine his eventual extradition to the United Kingdom, reported the Metropolitan Police of London.
The investigation focuses on a series of incidents that occurred between May 11 and June 22 of last year around the RAF Akrotiri base, a British military facility located in Cyprus. According to Scotland Yard, this is the first investigation conducted abroad under the British National Security Act and led by anti-terrorism agents.
British authorities claim that Sultanov allegedly conducted hostile surveillance on the military base and subsequently shared the information obtained with the IRGC, one of the main military and security structures of the Iranian regime.
The suspect had previously been detained by Cypriot authorities in 2025 and had been in custody since then. At that time, an Israeli minister stated that Cypriot authorities had thwarted a possible attack against Israeli citizens. Following the formal extradition request submitted by London, Sultanov was arrested again on July 17, as confirmed by the Police of Cyprus.
Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism in London, emphasized that the case demonstrates that the United Kingdom can utilize its national security legislation beyond its borders when British military facilities are allegedly targeted by hostile activities from foreign states.
Tension increased after an Iranian-made drone, of the Shahed type, caused minor damage to facilities at Akrotiri on March 2. Subsequently, the United Kingdom reported that the base would not be part of its defensive agreement with the United States related to the use of British military facilities.
That same month, Iran allegedly launched two ballistic missiles at the U.S. and British military base located in Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean. None of the projectiles hit the target, but the episode highlighted the extent of Iranian threats against Western facilities.
The case of Sultanov now adds an intelligence dimension to military tensions. British accusations suggest that Tehran not only poses a threat through missiles, drones, or public statements but could also resort to clandestine operations to gather information on Western military facilities.
For London, collaboration with the IRGC is a particularly sensitive issue due to the strategic nature of the British facility and the role Cyprus plays in the United Kingdom's military presence in the Mediterranean. British authorities are now seeking to have Sultanov transferred to the country to face justice for the charges of espionage and activities related to national security.
