A British taxi driver is fighting extradition to the United Kingdom from Cyprus over allegations he spied on a Royal Air Force base for Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Rashad Sultanov, 45, a dual British-Azerbaijani national, is accused of conducting hostile surveillance of RAF Akrotiri, a British Overseas Territory in Cyprus, for Tehran.
Scotland Yard believes Sultanov spent several months monitoring the movements of RAF fighter jets and other key aircraft at Akrotiri before sharing the information with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Investigators allege that Sultanov used long-lens cameras and multiple mobile phones to photograph the base and took extensive notes over a three-month period. He has denied the allegations.
Legal Proceedings in Cyprus
Sultanov appeared at Limassol District Court, wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt, where his lawyer successfully argued for an adjournment. The judge agreed to postpone the extradition hearing until the following week to allow Sultanov to secure a UK solicitor funded by British legal aid.
The investigation into Sultanov's alleged activities was led by Counter Terrorism Policing London and focused on incidents at RAF Akrotiri between May 11 and June 22, 2025. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorized charges against him under Sections 3 and 4 of the National Security Act.
RAF Akrotiri's Strategic Importance
RAF Akrotiri is the UK's largest military base outside of Britain and houses the RAF's Eurofighter Typhoons, among other critical aircraft. The base is strategically located approximately 200 miles from the coast of Israel, and fighter jets based there can reach Iran in under 40 minutes. Aircraft from Akrotiri have previously supported operations in Israel and targeted sites in Yemen, where Iran backs the Houthi movement.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, stated that the case demonstrates the UK's ability to apply the National Security Act extraterritorially when British military installations are allegedly targeted by hostile state actors. She highlighted the significant collaborative efforts between British and Cypriot law enforcement agencies and confirmed ongoing cooperation with the CPS, the National Crime Agency, and Cypriot authorities as extradition proceedings continue.