Gloucestershire Police on Sunday declared a major incident and arrested five men near RAF Fairford after receiving reports of three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the base at about 1245 a.m. local time.

A local resident reported three suspicious white vans parked in Whelford, a village situated roughly two miles from RAF Fairford. Armed officers responded and arrested five men initially under the Explosives Act. Later in the day, the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command took charge of the investigation and further arrested the suspects on suspicion of the preparation of a terrorist act.

About 85 households in the nearby village of Whelford were evacuated to Cirencester Leisure Center. A 400-meter cordon was established, and the British Army’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team deployed a remote-controlled bomb disposal robots to examine the three vans, which were found to contain viable incendiary devices and chemicals--now undergoing laboratory analysis to evaluate their technical capability and threat potential.

Police believe the incident is contained but are in the early stages of the investigation.

"A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident," Gloucestershire Police said in the statement. "It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act... A cordon is currently in place, but we would like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained."

The five suspects, who were seen sitting handcuffed and shirtless on the road, remain in custody. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, they can be detained for up to 14 days without charge.

RAF Fairford is a strategic base hosting U.S. Air Force assets including 501st Combat Support Wing, 420th Air Base Squadron, and B-1 Lancer bombers, which have been used for airstrikes against Iran since March 2026. This follows former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authorization for U.S. operations against Iranian missile sites.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had previously issued warnings regarding the deployment of US bombers operating from UK territory. Authorities are investigating potential links to Iran, including whether the regime paid for the plot, though no direct link has been confirmed.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that the situation is being actively managed and reassured the public: "We can be reassured that this is being dealt with. It is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7."

RAF Fairford was raised to Delta alert (the highest threat level for US military installations), while nearby RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk moved to Charlie alert.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the situation as "deeply concerning" and urged the public not to speculate.

A spokesperson for the 501st Combat Support Wing confirmed that US forces remain on high alert and are taking all necessary protective actions for service members and families.

Speaking to reporters Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump praised the arrests as an "amazing job," claiming the suspects were looking to do "big damage" and had been under surveillance.

Gloucestershire Police on Sunday declared a major incident and arrested five men near RAF Fairford after receiving reports of three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the base at about 1245 a.m. local time.

A local resident reported three suspicious white vans parked in Whelford, a village situated roughly two miles from RAF Fairford. Armed officers responded and arrested five men initially under the Explosives Act. Later in the day, the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command took charge of the investigation and further arrested the suspects on suspicion of the preparation of a terrorist act.

About 85 households in the nearby village of Whelford were evacuated to Cirencester Leisure Center. A 400-meter cordon was established, and the British Army’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team deployed a remote-controlled bomb disposal robots to examine the three vans, which were found to contain viable incendiary devices and chemicals--now undergoing laboratory analysis to evaluate their technical capability and threat potential.

Police believe the incident is contained but are in the early stages of the investigation.

"A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident," Gloucestershire Police said in the statement. "It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act... A cordon is currently in place, but we would like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained."

The five suspects, who were seen sitting handcuffed and shirtless on the road, remain in custody. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, they can be detained for up to 14 days without charge.

RAF Fairford is a strategic base hosting U.S. Air Force assets including 501st Combat Support Wing, 420th Air Base Squadron, and B-1 Lancer bombers, which have been used for airstrikes against Iran since March 2026. This follows former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authorization for U.S. operations against Iranian missile sites.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had previously issued warnings regarding the deployment of US bombers operating from UK territory. Authorities are investigating potential links to Iran, including whether the regime paid for the plot, though no direct link has been confirmed.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that the situation is being actively managed and reassured the public: "We can be reassured that this is being dealt with. It is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7."

RAF Fairford was raised to Delta alert (the highest threat level for US military installations), while nearby RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk moved to Charlie alert.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the situation as "deeply concerning" and urged the public not to speculate.

A spokesperson for the 501st Combat Support Wing confirmed that US forces remain on high alert and are taking all necessary protective actions for service members and families.

Speaking to reporters Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump praised the arrests as an "amazing job," claiming the suspects were looking to do "big damage" and had been under surveillance.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed this week, that Tehran has submitted a seven-day plan to the United States via Qatari mediators to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and restart nuclear talks. The proposal, presented on the sidelines of the 81st U.N. General Assembly in New York, is a compressed version of the June Islamabad Memorandum that previously collapsed, designed to move from a 60-day negotiation window to a seven-day implementation timeline.

The proposal outlines a plan that includes an immediate end to all hostilities, including in Lebanon and Gaza; lifting U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports; sanctions waiver on Iranian oil exports; and the release of at least $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

If Washington accepts the terms, the seven-day clock starts the following day, with the Strait of Hormuz reopening on the final day to allow comprehensive nuclear negotiations to begin immediately, including frameworks to re-admit UN nuclear inspectors (IAEA) to inspect nuclear stockpiles and damaged facilities.

Araghchi said that a deal before the U.S. midterm elections would be preferable, noting that the economic impact of the strait's closure on global energy prices is a critical pressure point. He detailed the proposal to reporters and in private briefings on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

While U.S. officials described discussions as "positive and constructive," they emphasized they are not rushing into an agreement, and UAE and Saudi Arabia have reportedly expressed skepticism about the latest push.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of global oil flows—triggered record-high energy and gasoline prices globally.

Pezeshkian Vows Iran Will Resist US-Israeli Aggression 'Until The Very End'

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared on Fox News on Thursday, following a defiant address to the UN General Assembly the day prior. He slammed the U.S. and Israel for imposing war on Iran, insisting Tehran does not seek conflict but will resist "until the very end."

The president said that "it is America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not," placing the responsibility for peace squarely on the Donald Trump administration. Despite seeking a deal, he vowed Iran would "keep resisting" U.S. sanctions and military strikes, stating, "We will find ways, and the life of our country will continue."

Pezeshkian categorically rejected any intent to build nuclear weapons, citing a religious decree by the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that deems it "unholy and illegal." He said Iran is ready to dilute its 60% enriched uranium reserves and accepted verification under the NPT framework.

The president noted the war was "imposed" on Iran by U.S. and Israeli "instigations." He expressed willingness to revive the June memorandum for peace, which collapsed over disputes regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He denied that U.S. midterm elections influence Iran's timeline for a deal.

On the cinflict in Yemen, Pezeshkian said that the Houthis are "responsible for their own actions" and that Iran has "no systematic relationship" with them, contradicting U.S. claims of direct Iranian command.

The interview followed Pezeshkian's historic UN speech on Wednesday, where he became the first world leader to address the UNGA while his country is at active war with the host nation. He held up photos of Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a US-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026, and in which over 150 schoolchildren were killed. The U.S. and Israeli delegations boycotted or walked out of his address. The conflict, now in its seventh month, has seen repeated breakdowns in diplomacy.