British authorities have uncovered a deeply concerning Iranian terror network operating on UK soil, with at least one suspect who is "very well connected" to Tehran's ruling establishment, according to a bombshell report in the Telegraph that reveals Iran's increasingly brazen attempts to target dissidents abroad.
According to the report, the suspect "has close links to the regime" and belongs to a family with prominent businesses in Iran that maintains close ties with government officials. He was arrested Saturday along with four other suspects, hours before they allegedly planned to attack "a specific site" believed to be connected to Iranian regime opponents.
CTSFO's and SF arresting Iranian terror suspects in Rochdale yesterday. pic.twitter.com/lgZdrxqzYM
— Skipper (@__theskipper__) May 4, 2025
British police believe the five detainees, all of Iranian origin, were behind a plot that was about to be executed imminently. The arrests took place during several coordinated raids by counterterrorism units with special forces assistance. Police continue to interrogate the suspects and analyze electronic devices seized from them. Police stated the investigation is "in its early stages," but operations continue at various locations across England. The main concern is the possibility of direct involvement by the Iranian regime – a departure from Tehran's previous methods, which typically used criminal elements as intermediaries.
Meanwhile, three additional Iranians were arrested in London in a separate investigation under national security laws, with assessments indicating they also acted on Iran's behalf as part of a global campaign to silence opposition figures. According to the Mirror, the targets of the attacks could be individuals or institutions associated with regime opponents.
Security officials fear there may be additional threats, and on Monday, it was reported that police in the country are conducting a "race against time" to arrest all those involved in the case.
Since early 2022, British security forces have successfully thwarted more than 20 attack attempts attributed to Iran, including plots against the Persian television channel Iran International. Last year, the channel's journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed near his home, and in another case, a man of Chechen origin was convicted of conducting surveillance on the channel's headquarters.
