London/Nicosia (HRNW)- A man holding dual British and Azerbaijani citizenship has been arrested in Cyprus over allegations of spying on a British military base and providing intelligence to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to British authorities, Rashid Sultanov, 44, was arrested in Cyprus on July 17 as part of an ongoing investigation by London’s counter-terrorism police.
British police said the investigation concerns alleged espionage activities carried out at the RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus between May 11 and June 22, 2025.
Authorities allege that Sultanov conducted covert surveillance of the British military installation, which is classified as a prohibited site under UK law.
According to investigators, the information allegedly gathered during the surveillance was later passed to a foreign intelligence agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
British authorities said efforts are underway to transfer the suspect to the United Kingdom to face legal proceedings.
There has been no official response to the allegations from either the suspect or the Iranian authorities, and the accusations have yet to be tested in court.
According to defense and security experts, security measures and surveillance around sensitive military installations across Europe have been significantly strengthened in recent years amid concerns over alleged espionage activities.
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