Speaker 1: Welcome back as the tensions between Iran and the US continue.
Speaker 1: That means that espionage is definitely not at rest. On
Speaker 1: July seventeen, twenty twenty six, Cypriot authorities over there in
Speaker 1: Greece arrested Rashan Sultanov, a forty four year old dual
Speaker 1: British and Azerbaijani citizen from Islington in North London. British
Speaker 1: counter Terrorism police later confirmed he's suspected of conducting hostile
Speaker 1: surveillance of Rif Akrotiri between May eleventh and June twenty
Speaker 1: second of last year, and sharing information with Iran's Islamic
Speaker 1: Revolutionary Guard Corp RIRGC. He remains in custody in Cypress
Speaker 1: while the United Kingdom seeks his extradition. The Crown Prosecution
Speaker 1: Service has authorized charges into the National Security Act, the
Speaker 1: first time that law has been used in investigation involving
Speaker 1: in overseas territory Orif. Akrotieri sits on the southern coast
Speaker 1: of Cypress under British sovereignty. It has long served as
Speaker 1: a critical staging post for UK operations across the Middle Least,
Speaker 1: including missions against Islamic state targets and more recently activity
Speaker 1: related to regional tensions involving Iran. In March twenty twenty
Speaker 1: six and Iranian type Shahad drones struck the base, causing
Speaker 1: limited damage. The IRGC has previously issued threats regarding British
Speaker 1: facilities using connection with operations against Iran. According to British police,
Speaker 1: sultan Off allegedly conducted surveillance of the base and then
Speaker 1: passed the details to the IRGC. Reporting has described the
Speaker 1: use of long lens cameras, mobile phones, extensive notes, with
Speaker 1: material reportedly encrypted and sent to a handler. One individual
Speaker 1: named in connection with the cases in Azerbarijani, Iranian national
Speaker 1: subject to an international arrest warrant. Sultanov has been described
Speaker 1: in some coverage as working as a taxi driver in London.
Speaker 1: In court appearances in Cyprus, he has spoken through a
Speaker 1: translator and indicated difficulty understanding proceedings. The National Security Act
Speaker 1: modernized UK laws on espionage, sabotage and foreign interference. It's
Speaker 1: used here signals and more assert of approach to alleged
Speaker 1: intelligence gathering by states considered hostile. Sultanov denies the allegations.
Speaker 1: Extradition proceedings are ongoing and the full evidence will be
Speaker 1: tested if and when he faces trial in the UK.
Speaker 1: What is clear is the strategic sensitivity of Acrotieri in
Speaker 1: Any systematic surveillance of aircraft movement, security arrangements or operational
Speaker 1: patterns at the base would be of significant entrance to
Speaker 1: a foreign intelligence service. The decision to pursue the case
Speaker 1: under the new legislation and to seek extradition underscores the
Speaker 1: seriousness with which the British view authorities are viewing this
Speaker 1: alleged activity.