The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced charges against three Iran-backed operatives whom it alleges were involved in a string of plots in the U.S. and Europe. The DOJ stated that Iranian agents most recently orchestrated a terrorist plot at an air force base in the United Kingdom, identifying their involvement in a major incident in September near RAF Fairford.

The charges come as part of an ongoing effort to counter alleged Iranian-backed terrorist activities abroad. The U.S. has previously expressed concerns over Iran's alleged support for militant groups and its role in destabilizing activities in the region and beyond.

One of the accused, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national, is alleged to have communicated with contacts in the UK from a prison in New York, where he is currently awaiting trial on separate charges. The other two suspects are accused of coordinating from Iran. The DOJ revealed that Iranian Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, and dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi were charged in an indictment unsealed on Tuesday.

These allegations suggest a sophisticated network capable of planning and executing attacks across continents. The indictment accuses the trio of planning attacks in Europe under the pseudonym Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI). The DOJ stated that HAYI claimed responsibility for 18 terrorist attacks in Europe during the spring of 2026, seven of which occurred in the UK. These attacks reportedly included arsons, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London.

FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the indictment, stating it demonstrates Iran's determination to commit terrorist attacks in Europe and the U.S. He added that one of the accused allegedly sent coded messages from detention to facilitate future acts of violence. Patel indicated that the suspects were involved in nearly 20 attempted attacks conducted in support of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah.

A major incident was declared on September 27 near RAF Fairford, a base in Gloucestershire previously used by U.S. armed forces, after three suspicious vans were reported. While no explosives were found, 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 and arrange logistics for the RAF Fairford plot, including surveillance of the base's perimeter and procurement of vans and fuel.

Iran has strongly denied any involvement in the RAF Fairford incident. Seven men were arrested in the UK in connection with the incident. The U.S. removed all its bombers from RAF Fairford last month following the September event.

This case highlights the complex geopolitical landscape and the challenges faced by international law enforcement in tracking and prosecuting alleged terrorist plots linked to state-sponsored actors. The investigation is ongoing, with further details expected to emerge as the legal proceedings develop.