British taxi driver fights extradition to UK over claims he spied on RAF base in Cyprus for Iran's Revolutionary Guard

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 02:30 EDT, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 02:46 EDT, 31 July 2026 An alleged Iranian spy is facing extradition to the UK from Cyprus after being accused of carrying out 'hostile surveillance' of RAF Akrotiri for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards.Taxi driver Rashad Sultanov, 45, a dual British-Azerbaijani national who claimed to import pomegranate juice into the UK, is suspected of monitoring RAF fighter jet movements for Tehran.Sultanov, who has links to north London and Leicester and has denied the allegations, appeared at Limassol District Court on Thursday wearing a pro-Palestine T-shirt as he fought extradition.His lawyer Efstathios Efstathiou successfully convinced a judge that Sultanov's case should be adjourned until next week until his client was given a UK solicitor funded by British legal aid.Scotland Yard believes he spent months watching RAF Akrotiri, a British Overseas Territory, before sharing information with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).The suspected spy is alleged to have used long-lens cameras and multiple mobile phones to photograph the RAF base while also taking 'copious notes' over a three-month period. Taxi driver Rashad Sultanov is accused of spying for Iran by watching and photographing jets coming in and out of RAF Akrotiri on CyprusAkrotiri is the UK's largest military base outside Britain and is home to the RAF's Eurofighter Typhoons, as well as a number of other key aircraft.It is just 200 miles from the coast of Israel and a fighter jet from there could reach Iran in less than 40 minutes.Last year aircraft at Akrotiri supported Israel and hit targets in Yemen, where the Houthi are supported by Iran. Sultanov has been detained as part of an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London into incidents at RAF Akrotiri between May 11 and June 22, 2025.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised charges under Sections 3 and 4 of the National Security Act.Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: 'This case shows we are able to use the National Security Act overseas when British military bases are allegedly targeted by hostile state activity.'A huge amount of partnership work has been carried out between British and Cypriot law enforcement agencies.'We continue to work with colleagues from the CPS, National Crime Agency and Cypriot authorities as extradition proceedings progress.'