Iran Rebuts MI5 Chief's Accusations of Plots on UK Soil

Iran has rejected claims by UK's MI5 Director General Ken McCallum regarding 20 Iran-backed plots thwarted in Britain since 2022. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson accused the UK of hosting groups promoting violence and urged a policy reassessment with Iran and the broader West Asia region.

Tehran has strongly denied allegations made by a British security official, with Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, publicly rebutting claims just a day after the UK's MI5 chief suggested that 20 potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots had been thwarted in Britain since January 2022.

In an extensive speech, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum highlighted an increased threat landscape, accusing Iran of orchestrating "plot after plot" on British soil. According to McCallum, state threat investigations have surged by 48% in the past year as countries like Russia and Iran leverage criminals and proxies for their agendas.

Responding to these accusations, Baghaei in a statement criticized the recurrence of such allegations over the past two years. He further accused the UK of harboring "terrorist" groups that misuse free speech to incite violence, calling on London to rethink its policies concerning Iran and the wider West Asia region.

(With inputs from agencies.)