British Man Arrested for Spying on RAF Base in Cyprus

A British national, Rashad Sultanov, faces accusations of spying for Iran at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, marking a significant national security case.

A British man has been arrested on suspicion of spying on a UK military base in Cyprus on behalf of the Iranian military.

Rashad Sultanov, 44, of Islington, north London, is accused of carrying out “hostile surveillance” on RAF Akrotiri and sharing information with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Sultanov, who also holds Azerbaijani citizenship, was arrested by Cypriot police on 17 July and is in custody pending extradition proceedings.

The Crown Prosecution Service has indicated he will be charged under the National Security Act—the first instance of an alleged offence under this 2023 law being investigated in an overseas territory.

The UK has maintained a permanent base at Akrotiri since the 1950s, and in recent months, RAF operations have been launched from there to intercept Iranian missiles and drones.

The investigation, led by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, concentrated on alleged espionage activities between 11 May 2025 and 22 June 2025.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, emphasized the importance of the case, stating, “This case shows we are able to use the National Security Act overseas when British military bases are allegedly targeted by hostile state activity.”

She noted the extensive collaboration between British and Cypriot law enforcement agencies, mentioning ongoing cooperation with the CPS, National Crime Agency, and Cypriot authorities as extradition processes continue.

In related developments, reports have emerged about several individuals, including an American, a Chinese national, and others, who are feared missing in Pakistan. Iran’s approach to managing its conflicts seems to suggest they wish to maintain pressure on the US without escalating to total war.

Recent drone strikes reportedly struck a US-owned regasification vessel and a Greek-owned tanker at Damietta port, marking a significant point in the ongoing tensions.

With both sides having resumed missile attacks after a brief lull, the situation remains fluid as the kingdom evaluates whether to continue its retaliatory actions or to seek de-escalation.