Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told the House of Commons that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was 'almost certainly' behind the incident at RAF Fairford last month.
In a statement on the first day back after a four-week recess, Burnham provided a brief update on the investigation into the incident at the Gloucestershire base, which is shared with US forces.
Close contact with the US
Burnham said: 'Since UNGA (the United Nations General Assembly), we have been in close contact with the US about protective security at our shared bases.'
RAF Fairford was used as a base for US bombers heading to the Middle East until earlier this month, when they were all removed without explanation.
Burnham said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood would share more details about the incident following his statement.
Assessment and response
He added: 'I can confirm our assessment that it is highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard.'
'We will not tolerate these threats on our soil. We will crack down on Iran's use of criminal networks using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams.'
'And we will bring further sanctions to restrict the capacity of Iran and the IRGC to do us harm.'
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the Iranian ambassador to the UK has been summoned to make clear 'Britain will not tolerate threats on our soil'.
Arrests and Iranian response
Seven men have so far been arrested then bailed during the investigation, with none charged.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Burnham was 'barking up the wrong tree'. He wrote on social media: 'I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.'
