Rashad Sultanov Cyprus extradition fight over Iran spy claim
Rashad Sultanov Cyprus extradition proceedings are underway after Cypriot police arrested the British dual national over alleged hostile surveillance of RAF Akrotiri for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The Crown Prosecution Service plans National Security Act charges, the first such overseas investigation.
The case has drawn attention because it tests how far Britain's 2023 national security law can reach when a UK military base abroad is allegedly targeted by a hostile state. For more coverage of high-stakes investigations, see True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries.
Key Takeaways
- Rashad Sultanov, 44, of Islington, north London, is in Cypriot custody pending extradition.
- He is accused of “hostile surveillance” of RAF Akrotiri and sharing information with Iran's IRGC.
- Alleged activity is said to have occurred between 11 May and 22 June 2025.
- Prosecutors say he will face charges under the National Security Act—the first overseas probe under the 2023 law.
- Counter Terrorism Policing London led the inquiry with Cypriot partners.
Who is Rashad Sultanov and what is he accused of?
According to the BBC, Sultanov is a British man who also holds Azerbaijani citizenship. He was arrested by Cypriot police on 17 July.
Authorities allege he carried out “hostile surveillance” on RAF Akrotiri, the UK's permanent base on the island since the 1950s. They further claim he shared information with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The Telegraph has described him as a taxi driver fighting extradition over the spying allegations. He remains in custody while those proceedings continue.
Why does this Cyprus extradition case matter now?
RAF Akrotiri has been used in recent months for operations to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones. That context helps explain why alleged surveillance of the base is treated as a national security threat.
The Crown Prosecution Service says Sultanov will be charged under the National Security Act. Officials describe it as the first time an alleged offence under the 2023 law has been investigated in an overseas territory.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the case shows Britain can use the Act overseas when British military bases are allegedly targeted by hostile state activity.
What happens next in the Rashad Sultanov Cyprus extradition process?
Extradition talks between UK and Cypriot authorities are ongoing. Flanagan said investigators continue to work with the CPS, the National Crime Agency and Cypriot police as the case progresses.
The London-led probe focused on alleged spying between 11 May 2025 and 22 June 2025. No conviction has been secured; Sultanov faces accusations and has not yet been tried in a UK court.
If extradited, he would be expected to face the authorised National Security Act charges in Britain. Until then, the Rashad Sultanov Cyprus extradition fight remains the central legal battleground.