Tehran:Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran on Tuesday in response to allegations by senior UK officials linking Tehran to an incident at the RAF Fairford military base. This move was reported by Iran's state news agency IRNA.

According to Anadolu Agency, Hugo Shorter, the British ambassador, was summoned by Alireza Yousefi, an assistant foreign minister and director general for Western Europe at Iran's Foreign Ministry. Tehran expressed a 'strong protest' against the UK's 'irresponsible and destructive' stance toward Iran.

Yousefi firmly rejected the British claims and stated that the UK could not use 'baseless accusations' against Iran to deflect from its involvement in US and Israeli military actions against the country. He also criticized the UK for allegedly hosting groups and individuals hostile to Tehran.

Yousefi called on London to provide evidence supporting the allegations about the RAF Fairford incident 'as soon as possible,' warning that Iran might 'seriously reconsider' its relations with the UK if the evidence was not forthcoming. He added that the British government would be responsible for any consequences.

Shorter assured that he would communicate Iran's position to British authorities, as reported by IRNA. The tensions are rooted in a security incident that occurred near the RAF Fairford base in southwest England on September 27. The base was previously used by US bombers for strikes against Iran.

Following the incident, British police arrested five men on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses but later released them on bail. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the incident was 'highly likely' coordinated in Iran and 'almost certainly' directed by the IRGC. In response, London sanctioned two Iranian nationals, and the UK, US, and 27 other countries supported Britain's attribution of the event to Tehran in a joint statement.