British man accused of spying on Cyprus RAF base for Iran

A British man has been arrested on suspicion of spying on a UK military base in Cyprus on behalf of the Iranian military.

Rashad Sultanov, 44, of Islington, north London, is accused of carrying out “hostile surveillance” on RAF Akrotiri and sharing information with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He also holds Azerbaijani citizenship and has been described in some reports as a taxi driver.

Sultanov was arrested by Cypriot police on 17 July and remains in custody pending extradition proceedings to the UK. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges under the National Security Act 2023 — the first time an alleged offence under the law has been investigated in an overseas territory. The charges relate to sections covering assisting a foreign intelligence service and activity at a prohibited place.

The investigation, led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, focused on alleged activity between 11 May and 22 June 2025. Some reports indicate he was first detained in Cyprus in June 2025, with local charges later suspended as British authorities pursued extradition.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “This case shows we are able to use the National Security Act overseas when British military bases are allegedly targeted by hostile state activity. A huge amount of partnership work has been carried out between British and Cypriot law enforcement agencies.”

The UK has maintained a permanent base at Akrotiri since the 1950s. It has been used for operations against Iranian missiles and drones, and was struck by an Iranian-type drone in March 2026. The IRGC has previously threatened British bases linked to operations involving the US.

Sultanov is currently held at the Central Jail of Nicosia and is contesting extradition. The case continues.

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