Rashad Sultanov arrested in Cyprus over alleged spying on RAF Akrotiri for Iran
Rashad Sultanov, a 44‑year‑old dual British‑Azerbaijani national, was arrested by Cypriot authorities on 17 July 2026. He is accused of conducting hostile surveillance at the UK’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus between 11 May and 22 June 2025 and of passing the gathered information to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized charges under sections 3 and 4 of the UK National Security Act 2023, marking the first time the legislation has been applied to alleged offences committed in an overseas territory. Extradition proceedings to the United Kingdom are under way.
The investigation was led by Counter‑Terrorism Policing London, in cooperation with Cypriot police, the National Crime Agency and other UK agencies. Commander Helen Flanagan said the case demonstrates the ability to use the National Security Act abroad when British military bases are targeted by hostile state activity. RAF Akrotiri is a permanent UK sovereign base in Cyprus used for operations in the Middle East.
Entities: Counter Terrorism Policing London · Cyprus · Helen Flanagan · Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps · Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) · National Security Act (UK) · National Security Act 2023 · RAF Akrotiri · Rashad Sultanov · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 16 SOURCES] The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges under sections 3 and 4 of the UK National Security Act 2023. (any)
- [● 16 SOURCES] This is the first case in which the National Security Act has been applied to alleged offences committed in an overseas territory. (any)
- [● 16 SOURCES] Extradition proceedings are under way to transfer Sultanov to the United Kingdom for trial. (any)
- [● 16 SOURCES] He allegedly passed the information gathered to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). (any)
- [● 16 SOURCES] The investigation was led by Counter‑Terrorism Policing London with cooperation from Cypriot authorities, the National Crime Agency and other UK agencies. (any)
- [● 16 SOURCES] Rashad Sultanov, 44‑year‑old dual UK‑Azerbaijani national, was arrested in Cyprus on 17 July 2026. (any)
- [● 16 SOURCES] RAF Akrotiri is a permanent UK sovereign base in Cyprus used for air operations over the Middle East. (any)
- [● 16 SOURCES] He is accused of conducting hostile surveillance at RAF Akrotiri between 11 May 2025 and 22 June 2025. (any)