Headlines
UK Police Arrest Suspected Iranian Spies for Trying to Enter Submarine Base, Sun Newspaper Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 20, 2026
Quick Summary
UK police arrested two individuals, suspected of espionage for Iran, after an attempted entry into Britain’s nuclear submarine base in Scotland, according to The Sun and Reuters on March 20, 2026. The arrests underscore heightened security concerns around HMNB Clyde’s sensitive Trident facilities.
Two suspected Iranian spies arrested near UK submarine base, Sun newspaper says
Details of the Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
Incident Overview
LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Two suspected Iranian spies have been arrested after attempting to enter Britain's nuclear submarine base in Scotland, the Sun newspaper reported on Friday.
The arrests come three weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. While Britain has not taken part in the attacks on Iran, the country's forces have downed Iranian missiles and drones in the Gulf region.
Police and Royal Navy Statements
Police Scotland's Response
Police Scotland confirmed they had arrested a man and a woman on Thursday near the base, but did not comment on their nationality, adding in a statement that inquiries were ongoing.
"Around 5pm on Thursday, 19 March, 2026, we were made aware of two people attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde," Police Scotland said.
"A 34-year-old man and 31-year-old woman have been arrested."
Significance of the Clyde Base
The Clyde base is located on the west coast of Scotland and is key to Britain's security, hosting the country's nuclear-armed submarine fleet, as well as its attack submarines.
Royal Navy Confirmation
The Royal Navy confirmed the arrests in a statement and made no further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Context: Iranian Espionage Concerns in the UK
MI5 Warnings and Previous Incidents
The threat posed to Britain from Iran has been the subject of repeated warnings from the UK's domestic spy agency MI5, with accusations that Tehran was behind more than 20 suspected kidnap and assassination plots in the country.
Details on the Suspects
The Sun newspaper reported the arrested man was believed to be an Iranian national, while the woman's nationality was unknown.
Recent Espionage Cases
There have been several cases of suspected Iranian spies being arrested in the UK over the last year. Iran has repeatedly denied allegations of spying, saying it is part of a campaign against it by hostile Western powers.
Recent Court Appearance
Two men appeared in a London court on Thursday accused of being tasked by Iran to carry out hostile surveillance on Jewish people and sites in London.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, writing by Sarah Young, editing by Paul Sandle)
Key Takeaways
- •The arrests involved a 34‑year‑old man and a 31‑year‑old woman, suspected of spying for Iran, detained near the HMNB Clyde submarine base, as reported by The Sun via Reuters (reddit.com).
- •HMNB Clyde, comprising Faslane and RNAD Coulport, hosts the UK’s nuclear‑armed submarine fleet and warhead storage—making it a high‑security, strategic site (en.wikipedia.org).
- •This incident follows a broader pattern of espionage risks facing the base in recent years, including underwater surveillance devices believed to be of Russian origin and a steep rise in security incidents at the site (themoscowtimes.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK police arrest suspected Iranian spies for trying to enter submarine base, Sun newspaper says
1What happened at the UK submarine base in Scotland?
Two suspected Iranian spies were arrested after attempting to enter Britain's nuclear submarine base in Scotland.
2Who reported the incident involving the suspected spies?
The incident was reported by The Sun newspaper, with Reuters providing additional coverage.
3When did the attempted breach of the submarine base occur?
The attempted breach took place on Thursday, March 20.
4Who were the arrested individuals suspected to be?
The arrested individuals are suspected to be Iranian spies.
5Which police agency made the arrests?
UK police made the arrests at the nuclear submarine base.