Alleged Iranian Spy Fights Extradition Over Surveillance at Cyprus RAF Base

By the Editorial Team · Friday, July 31, 2026

Rashad Sultanov, a dual British-Azerbaijani national, appeared in a Cypriot court contesting extradition to the UK on charges of spying for Iran at the RAF Akrotiri military base. The case represents a key move in UK counterintelligence efforts against alleged Iranian espionage, with proceedings ongoing as authorities seek his transfer to face trial in London.

An individual accused of spying for Iran appeared in a Cypriot court this week as he contests extradition to the United Kingdom on charges related to espionage at a British Royal Air Force base in Cyprus. Rashad Sultanov, 44, a dual British and Azerbaijani national residing in London, is alleged to have conducted surveillance activities at RAF Akrotiri, a strategic installation under British sovereignty.

Authorities allege that Sultanov monitored fighter jet movements at the base, a key hub for UK military operations in the Middle East, and shared the collected intelligence with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). He was originally detained by Cypriot police in June 2025. Following his arrest, criminal proceedings in Cyprus were suspended earlier this month after British prosecutors requested his extradition to face charges of espionage under the UK’s National Security Act, marking the first use of the legislation in relation to alleged overseas offenses.

During the court session at Limassol District Court, Sultanov appeared wearing a T-shirt bearing a pro-Palestinian message. Speaking through a court-appointed Azerbaijani translator, he indicated difficulty understanding the proceedings and denied all allegations. The hearing was adjourned and is expected to continue next week. Sultanov remains in custody at the Central Jail of Nicosia, with the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service reportedly seeking to transfer him to London’s HMP Belmarsh.

According to reports, Sultanov, a former taxi driver, is believed to have maintained direct contact with the IRGC. He is alleged to have engaged in hostile surveillance over a three-month period preceding his arrest, including photographing the RAF base with long-lens cameras and mobile phones, alongside taking extensive notes. Additional information underlying the UK’s extradition request claims he relayed intelligence to a “handler” thought to be Elsad Elsin Hajiyev, an Azerbaijani-Iranian national currently wanted under an international arrest warrant.

The extradition case marks a significant development in counterintelligence efforts related to alleged Iranian espionage targeting British military assets abroad. Authorities continue to evaluate the evidence as Sultanov challenges the charges and the request for his transfer to the UK judicial system.

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