A British-Azerbaijani dual national has been arrested in Cyprus over allegations of spying on a British military base and passing intelligence to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The suspect, Rashad Sultanov, 44, from Islington in North London, was arrested by Cypriot authorities on July 17 and is being held in custody pending extradition proceedings.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the arrest forms part of Britain’s first overseas investigation under the National Security Act.
The investigation, led by counter-terrorism officers, relates to alleged hostile surveillance carried out at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri base in Cyprus between May 11 and June 22 last year.
Police alleged that Sultanov conducted surveillance on the military base before sharing intelligence with the IRGC.
Commenting on the case, Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing in London, said: “This case shows we are able to use the National Security Act overseas when British military bases are allegedly targeted by hostile state activity”.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran and Western allies.
Earlier this month, the IRGC threatened to target British military bases used by U.S. forces to launch attacks on Iran.
In March, a drone identified as a Shahed model caused minor damage after striking facilities at RAF Akrotiri.
Britain subsequently stated that the base would not be used under its defence agreement with the United States for operations involving Iran.
Reports also indicated that Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the U.S.-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in March, although neither missile struck the facility.
RAF Akrotiri is one of two sovereign military bases Britain retained in Cyprus after the country’s independence in 1960 and has supported military operations in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
