Joint statement says Iran’s use of arson, sabotage, cyberattacks and proxy networks threatens the sovereignty and security of Western countries and their partners
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Foreign ministers from 32 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia, have condemned what they described as Iran’s use of violent attacks, covert networks and proxy actors to threaten their countries and partners, citing Tehran’s alleged involvement in an incident at the British Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base on Sept. 27.
In a joint statement published on Monday, the ministers condemned Iran’s alleged involvement in activities ranging from lethal plotting and arson to sabotage, cyberattacks and other forms of hybrid operations, warning that attempts to intimidate or harm people on their territories would not be tolerated.
The statement said the countries recognized the United Kingdom’s attribution of Iran’s involvement in the RAF Fairford incident and its assessment that the event demonstrated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) continued willingness to conduct hostile activities beyond Iran’s borders through covert networks and proxy actors.
The ministers also linked their concerns to a recent campaign of attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists and US interests. The attacks were claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), according to the statement.
“Any attempt by Iran to threaten, silence, intimidate, harass, harm, or coerce people on our territories through proxies or any other means is unacceptable,” the joint statement said.
The ministers warned that individuals conducting hostile activities on behalf of Iran or any other state would face efforts to identify, investigate, disrupt and prosecute their actions.
Iran was also warned that the participating countries remained united in their commitment to protecting their sovereignty, strengthening international coordination, improving national resilience and safeguarding their communities.
The statement concluded with a pledge to ensure those responsible for hostile activities were held accountable.
A coordinated response to alleged Iranian operations abroad
The joint declaration reflects growing coordination among Western and partner governments over allegations that Iran uses covert networks and proxy groups to pursue its interests beyond its borders.
The countries’ position emphasizes that such activities are not limited to conventional military operations but can also involve criminal plots, cyber operations, sabotage and intimidation targeting individuals and communities.
The reference to the IRGC is particularly significant because the ministers specifically cited the organization’s alleged willingness to project hostile activity internationally through intermediaries.
Their warning signals an intention to strengthen cooperation in investigating and disrupting suspected state-linked operations, including those carried out by non-state actors.
The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The declaration did not announce specific new sanctions or military measures. Instead, it underscored a collective commitment to coordination, prevention, law enforcement and accountability in response to alleged Iranian state-linked threats.
UK Says Iran’s IRGC Almost Certainly Directed RAF Fairford Security Incident
Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) almost certainly directed a major security scare at a British airbase used by the United States military in its war against Iran, prompting London to summon Tehran’s ambassador and announce new measures targeting alleged Iranian-linked hostile activity.
Addressing parliament, Burnham said the British government’s assessment was that the September 27 incident at Royal Air Force Fairford in southwest England was “highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.”
“We will not tolerate these threats on our soil. We will crack down on Iran’s use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams,” Burnham warned.
The incident drew renewed attention last week after the United States abruptly withdrew all its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford. The base has been used by US forces involved in military operations against Iran.
The British Foreign Office confirmed Monday that Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom had been summoned for talks following the government’s assessment of the incident.