Nongqai Vol 17 No 8 – Spying in Cyprus
British-Azerbaijani man arrested in Cyprus over alleged spying on UK airbase for Iran
Compiled by Wolfgang Witschas
RAF base Akrotiri Cyprus
Abstract
A man, of dual British and Azerbaijani nationality is being was arrested on 17 July 2026 and is held in Cyprus pending a hearing on a request for his extradition to the United Kingdom, where the authorities accuse him of spying at the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri, Cyprus in the southern part of the island. It is the first British investigation abroad under the National Security Act.
Key Words
Cyprus
Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Akrotiri
British-Azerbaijani national
Rashad Sultanov
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
US Air Force (USAF)
USAF KC-135 tankers
USAF B-52s, B-1s and B-2s bombers
Introduction
A 44-year British-Azerbaijani national, Rashad Sultanov, from Islington, north London, was arrested on 17 July 2026 in Cyprus on suspicion of spying. He is suspected of conducting hostile surveillance on Britain’s RAF Akrotiri airbase near Limassol on the Mediterranean island and passing information to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) the Metropolitan police said. He has been arrested by the Cypriot authorities and is being held in custody as extradition proceedings continue, the police said in a statement on Friday 17 July 2026. He was arrested as part of Britain’s first overseas National Security Act investigation, led by counter-terrorism police into incidents at Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus between 11 May and 22 June last year, the statement said. Cypriot police did not immediately return a request for comment.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said they are “working closely with Cypriot authorities” and that security at Akrotiri was not compromised.
What happened
• Allegation: Suspected of spying on RAF base Akrotiri in Cyprus for Iranian intelligence
• RAF Akrotiri is one of the UK’s two Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus. It’s a major UK airbase used for Middle East operations, intelligence and refuelling
• Charges: Cyprus police charged him with conspiracy to commit a crime, gathering information for a foreign power, and entering a prohibited area
• The UK MoD said they’re “working closely with Cypriot authorities” and that security at Akrotiri was not compromised.
The context
• RAF Akrotiri is strategic for the UK and Nato. It is been used for operations over Syria, Iraq, Israel/Gaza, and for evacuations. Because of that, it’s a high-value target for Iran, Russia, and others
• Iran’s MO: Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC have been ramping up overseas surveillance since 2023-2024. Pattern: use diaspora members, dual nationals, or people with EU/UK passports to do low-level recon because they can travel easier.
• Cyprus angle: Cyprus is a hub. Lots of Iranians, Russians, Israelis, Brits. Easy to move between EU, Middle East, and UK bases. Cypriot authorities have increased counter-intel with MI5/MI6 since 2024.
What has been determined so far
• He was reportedly filming and photographing the base perimeter, entry points, and aircraft movements over several weeks
• He allegedly had contact with Iranian handlers via encrypted apps and received payments
• No evidence yet that he entered the base itself. “Prohibited area” in Cyprus law covers the zone around military installations too
• He denies the charges. Court set a hearing for August 2026
UK and Cypriot authorities are treating it as part of a wider Iranian intelligence network targeting UK/US bases in the region.
In March 2026, an Iranian-type Shahed drone strike caused slight damage to facilities at Akrotiri. Soon afterwards, Britain said the base would not be part of its defensive agreement with the US over the use of UK bases.
Why this matters
This fits a pattern that has been unfolding in 2025-2026:
• Europe: Multiple arrests of people allegedly working for Iran, Russia, and China targeting military sites
• Diaspora recruitment: Using British-Azerbaijani, Iranian-British, etc. dual nationals
• “Low tech” spying: Phones, drones, and open-source observation instead of classic dead drops
How Iranian intelligence runs these operations
Iran uses two main agencies:
• Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic (MOIS) and
• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization (IRGC-IO)
Most probably IRGC-IO was behind the British-Azerbaijani man arrested in Cyprus July 2026 for spying on RAF Akrotiri.
How the IRGC-IO operates
Recruitment pool
Diaspora, dual nationals, students, criminals, smugglers. Often people with financial problems or family in Iran British-Azerbaijani, British-Iranian, Turkish nationals
Handler style
IRGC-IO runs ops from embassies or via 3rd countries: Turkey, UAE, Cyprus, Balkans. Uses Telegram, WhatsApp, crypto payments Handler in Tehran → cut-out in Istanbul → asset in Limassol
Targets
UK/US/Israeli military bases, Jewish community sites, dissidents, nuclear facilities RAF Akrotiri, US bases in Cyprus, synagogues in Europe
Methods
• Surveillance: Photos/video of perimeters, license plates, flight schedules
• Logistics: Buying drones, SIM cards
• Assassination/kidnap plots for dissidents Cyprus 2026: filming base. Germany 2024: plot vs Israeli sites
• Payment: Crypto, cash via hawala, small “business deals”. 5k-20k EUR per job Keeps it deniable
When/how the US Air Force (USAF) has used RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus
• Cold War: USAF KC-135 tankers and reconnaissance aircraft used Akrotiri for Mediterranean/ Middle East operations.
• 1991 Gulf War: US aircraft used it for staging and refuelling
• 2003 Iraq War: US used Akrotiri heavily for logistics, airlift, and tanker refuelling
• 2011 Libya: US tankers refuelled there during Operation Odyssey Dawn
• 2014-2024 Anti-ISIS + Israel/Gaza: USAF tankers, cargo, and occasionally bombers have rotated through for refuel + staging
• 2024 Iran-Israel strikes: US tankers and support aircraft operated out of Akrotiri to support regional operations. Strategic bombers, specifically US B-52s, B-1s, B-2s have not been permanently based at Akrotiri.
Epilogue
Why Akrotiri is strategic for mid-air refuelling:
• Location: 2 hours flight time to Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt
• Runway: 2.7km long and can handle any US aircraft including B-52 bombers and tankers
• Politics: It’s UK territory, so less restrictive than some host nations
RAF Akrotiri Cyprus is a KC-135s/KC-46s tanker hub for B-52s, B-1s and B-2s, hitting Middle East. That is also why it’s a target for Iranian/Russian intelligence.
References:
https://theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/31/british-azerbaijani-man-arrested-cyprus-alleged-spying-uk-airbase-iran
https://apnews.com/article/uk-cyprus-akrotiri-spying-iran-arrest-115cc3b8c7945fc68c182852d60856a2
https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-arrested-in-cyprus-in-first-overseas-national-security-act-investigation-511576
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/man-suspected-spying-uk-military-airbase-iran-arrested-cyprus-2026-07-31/
Afrikaanse weergawe
FEITE OOR RASHAD SULTANOV SE ARRESTASIE (17 JULIE 2026)
- Naam: Rashad Sultanov
- Ouderdom: 44
- Burgerskap: Dubbel — Brits en Azerbeidjans
- Verblyf: Islington, Noord-Londen
- Arrestasie: 17 Julie 2026, Ciprus
Waarom is hy gearresteer?
- Hy word verdink van spioenasie vir Iran se Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — ’n organisasie wat internasionaal verbind word met ernstige geweld en destabiliserende aktiwiteite.
- Hy het glo “hostile surveillance” gedoen op die Britse lugmagbasis RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Wat het hy vermoedelik gedoen?
- Tussen 11 Mei en 22 Junie 2025 het hy:
- Bewegings, infrastruktuur en aktiwiteite by RAF Akrotiri gemonitor.
- Inligting aan die IRGC oorgedra.
Waarom is die saak belangrik?
- Dit is die eerste oorsese ondersoek onder die VK se National Security Act.
- Die basis RAF Akrotiri is ’n kritieke Britse militêre installasie vir operasies in die Midde-Ooste.
Huidige status
- Sultanov is in aanhouding in Cyprus.
- Die VK het ekstradisies aangevra.
Kommentaar
- Spioenasie bly maar ‘n ewigdurende probleem en hou teen-inligtingsmense aan die gang.
