Iran focused on attacking "harder targets," U.K. spy chief warns

MI5 Director General Ken McCallum delivered his annual threat update, warning that Iran has shifted its focus toward targeting 'harder' British targets, including military sites. This marks an escalation from previous efforts concentrated on dissidents and Jewish communities. McCallum noted that Iran often uses criminal proxies to conduct sabotage and intimidation. The warning follows a late-September security incident at RAF Fairford, which led to the temporary withdrawal of U.S. long-range bombers. Additionally, the spy chief identified Russia as the primary state aggressor and raised concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in supercharging cyberattacks and assisting in the creation of biological weapons.

MI5 Director General Ken McCallum delivered his annual threat update, warning that Iran has shifted its focus toward targeting 'harder' British targets, including military sites. This marks an escalation from previous efforts concentrated on dissidents and Jewish communities. McCallum noted that Iran often uses criminal proxies to conduct sabotage and intimidation. The warning follows a late-September security incident at RAF Fairford, which led to the temporary withdrawal of U.S. long-range bombers. Additionally, the spy chief identified Russia as the primary state aggressor and raised concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in supercharging cyberattacks and assisting in the creation of biological weapons.