RAF Akrotiri spying suspect faces UK extradition

A British-Azerbaijani dual citizen held in Cyprus is facing extradition to the UK after being accused of spying for Iran on the RAF Akrotiri air base, London police said Friday.

Rashad Sultanov, 44, was arrested on July 17 as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing London investigation into incidents at the British base between May 11 and June 22, 2025.

UK authorities alleged that Sultanov carried out hostile surveillance on RAF Akrotiri, which they described as a prohibited place, and then shared information with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Britain's Counter Terror police confirmed to AFP that Sultanov was first arrested by Cypriot police in June 2025 on spying and terror charges and has been in custody since. He was arrested again this month as part of an investigation under the UK's National Security Act, the country's counter-espionage and foreign interference law.

Police said the British investigation would now take precedence and that the plan was for Sultanov to be extradited to the UK.

Cypriot police gave few details when he was first arrested last year after being spotted near the air force base close to Limassol.

UK bases in Cyprus have drawn attention during the US and Israeli war against Iran, with London allowing Washington to use Akrotiri for what it called defensive operations against Tehran. In March, an Iranian-made drone hit the runway at the site in southern Cyprus.