The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has unveiled an eight-count indictment against three individuals accused of orchestrating a series of terrorist plots across Europe and the United States, including a major security incident at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. The charges, announced on Tuesday, shed light on an alleged campaign of violence linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah.
Suspects and Allegations
The accused are Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national; Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national; and Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen. According to the DOJ, al-Saadi is currently detained in New York awaiting trial on prior charges and allegedly communicated with UK contacts from prison. The other two are accused of directing operations from Iran. The indictment claims the trio planned attacks under the banner of a purported new group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which claimed responsibility for 18 terrorist attacks in Europe in the spring of 2026, including seven in the UK. These attacks involved arson, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London, one of whom is a dual US-UK citizen.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the indictment demonstrates Iran's determination to commit terrorist acts in Europe and the US. He added that one of the accused allegedly sent coded messages from detention to assist in future violence. Patel also said the suspects were involved in nearly 20 attempted attacks in support of the IRGC and Kataib Hezbollah.
The RAF Fairford Incident
The charges are linked to a major incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on 27 September. Police were alerted after three suspicious vans were spotted near the base, which hosts US armed forces. No explosive materials were found, but a quantity of petrol was seized. The DOJ alleges that in August, al-Hassani directed and paid associates in the UK to conduct preparatory steps for the plot, including surveillance of the base's perimeter. In September, he allegedly procured vans, barrels of fuel, and researched chemical accelerants such as potassium chloride, as well as metallic objects that could serve as shrapnel. The vans were disguised as belonging to a fuel delivery business and a swimming pool supply company.
On 26 September, al-Hassani allegedly instructed individuals to drive the three vans to RAF Fairford, maintaining frequent communication and guiding their route. At least two of the vans encountered a security roadblock and were diverted. The vans were eventually spotted by a local farmer returning from a party in the early hours of 27 September, who called the police. Seven men have been arrested in the UK in connection with the incident. Two British nationals appeared in court last month over the alleged Iran-linked plot.
Iran's Denial and US Response
The Iranian embassy in London has categorically rejected and strongly condemned what it called unfounded and malicious speculations linking Iran to the incident. However, the US has stood by its allegations. Following the incident, the US withdrew all its bombers from RAF Fairford, with President Donald Trump citing threats to the base. RAF Fairford has long been used by the US Air Force for strategic bomber operations, including recent missions to the Middle East. In July, Iran declared that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory would be considered a legitimate target.
The indictment underscores escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with the DOJ alleging a broad conspiracy to carry out attacks on Western soil. As the legal proceedings unfold, the international community watches closely, mindful of the implications for global security.
