WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome back as the tensions between Iran and the US continue.

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<v Speaker 1>That means that espionage is definitely not at rest. On

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<v Speaker 1>July seventeen, twenty twenty six, Cypriot authorities over there in

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<v Speaker 1>Greece arrested Rashan Sultanov, a forty four year old dual

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<v Speaker 1>British and Azerbaijani citizen from Islington in North London. British

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<v Speaker 1>counter Terrorism police later confirmed he's suspected of conducting hostile

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<v Speaker 1>surveillance of Rif Akrotiri between May eleventh and June twenty

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<v Speaker 1>second of last year, and sharing information with Iran's Islamic

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<v Speaker 1>Revolutionary Guard Corp RIRGC. He remains in custody in Cypress

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<v Speaker 1>while the United Kingdom seeks his extradition. The Crown Prosecution

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<v Speaker 1>Service has authorized charges into the National Security Act, the

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<v Speaker 1>first time that law has been used in investigation involving

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<v Speaker 1>in overseas territory Orif. Akrotieri sits on the southern coast

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<v Speaker 1>of Cypress under British sovereignty. It has long served as

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<v Speaker 1>a critical staging post for UK operations across the Middle Least,

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<v Speaker 1>including missions against Islamic state targets and more recently activity

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<v Speaker 1>related to regional tensions involving Iran. In March twenty twenty

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<v Speaker 1>six and Iranian type Shahad drones struck the base, causing

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<v Speaker 1>limited damage. The IRGC has previously issued threats regarding British

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<v Speaker 1>facilities using connection with operations against Iran. According to British police,

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<v Speaker 1>sultan Off allegedly conducted surveillance of the base and then

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<v Speaker 1>passed the details to the IRGC. Reporting has described the

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<v Speaker 1>use of long lens cameras, mobile phones, extensive notes, with

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<v Speaker 1>material reportedly encrypted and sent to a handler. One individual

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<v Speaker 1>named in connection with the cases in Azerbarijani, Iranian national

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<v Speaker 1>subject to an international arrest warrant. Sultanov has been described

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<v Speaker 1>in some coverage as working as a taxi driver in London.

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<v Speaker 1>In court appearances in Cyprus, he has spoken through a

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<v Speaker 1>translator and indicated difficulty understanding proceedings. The National Security Act

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<v Speaker 1>modernized UK laws on espionage, sabotage and foreign interference. It's

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<v Speaker 1>used here signals and more assert of approach to alleged

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<v Speaker 1>intelligence gathering by states considered hostile. Sultanov denies the allegations.

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<v Speaker 1>Extradition proceedings are ongoing and the full evidence will be

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<v Speaker 1>tested if and when he faces trial in the UK.

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<v Speaker 1>What is clear is the strategic sensitivity of Acrotieri in

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<v Speaker 1>Any systematic surveillance of aircraft movement, security arrangements or operational

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<v Speaker 1>patterns at the base would be of significant entrance to

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<v Speaker 1>a foreign intelligence service. The decision to pursue the case

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<v Speaker 1>under the new legislation and to seek extradition underscores the

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<v Speaker 1>seriousness with which the British view authorities are viewing this

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<v Speaker 1>alleged activity.