Iran Denies Involvement in Alleged Plot Against ’Israeli’ Embassy in London

By Staff, Agencies

Iran has firmly rejected reports from Western media alleging that Iranian nationals were involved in a plot to target the "Israeli" embassy in London.

In a post on his X account on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Tehran had not received any official notifications regarding the allegations through the proper diplomatic channels.

"Iran is prepared to engage and clarify what actually occurred, and we urge UK authorities to ensure our citizens receive due process," Araghchi wrote.

The United Kingdom has arrested eight individuals, including seven Iranian nationals, as part of two separate investigations into alleged threats to national security. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests on Sunday, stating that five of the men, including four Iranian nationals, were detained on suspicion of "preparation of a terrorist act," while the remaining three were arrested under national security laws introduced in 2023 to counter the actions of hostile states.

The arrests were made during a "pre-planned" investigation into a suspected plot to target "specific premises." The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the targeted site was informed and is receiving police support.

A separate investigation led by the Met resulted in the arrest of three additional Iranian men on Saturday in London. The men, aged 39, 44, and 55, were detained under section 27 of the National Security Act at different locations in north-west and west London. They were taken into custody while searches continued.

In his post, Araghchi criticized the media reports about Iranian involvement in the alleged plot against the "Israeli" embassy and called for UK authorities to engage with Tehran, so the country could assist in investigating any credible allegations.

The Iranian diplomat also warned that certain third parties may be attempting to provoke tensions and sabotage diplomatic efforts through deceptive tactics, such as false flag operations. "The timing and lack of engagement suggest something is not right," he said.

On Tuesday, Araghchi further expressed concern about the arrests of Iranian citizens in the UK, reiterating Tehran's readiness to cooperate in the investigation. "I am disturbed to learn that Iranian citizens have reportedly been arrested by UK security services," he wrote.