British police have arrested seven Iranian nationals in connection with two separate terrorism investigations linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In the first operation, five men — four of whom are Iranian citizens — were apprehended on suspicion of preparing to carry out a terrorist attack on a specific location within the United Kingdom.
Details about the targeted site and the nature of the planned attack have not been publicly disclosed, but authorities confirmed that the arrests were part of a preemptive counterterrorism response based on credible intelligence.
In a separate case, three additional Iranian men were arrested in London as part of an ongoing counterterrorism investigation.
These arrests, though not directly linked to the first operation, are reportedly part of broader efforts to disrupt potential Iranian state-sponsored activities within the UK.
The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed whether any weapons or explosives were recovered during the operations, but emphasized that the arrests were based on threats deemed serious and imminent enough to warrant immediate action.
Security experts believe the cases may highlight ongoing attempts by the Iranian regime to exert influence and sow instability beyond its borders, including efforts to target individuals and interests perceived as hostile to Tehran.
British authorities have pledged to remain vigilant amid growing concerns about foreign-backed extremism. Investigations into both cases are ongoing, and the suspects remain in custody while further inquiries are carried out.
The UK government has yet to officially attribute the alleged plots to Tehran, but analysts warn that Iran’s intelligence and paramilitary networks have a history of covert operations in Western countries.
