Britain spends about half a billion pounds on nuclear site security amid fears of Iranian attack

The fallout of the West Asia conflict now appears to be reaching Europe. A fresh intelligence report claims that Iran could carry out a major attack on Britain's highly sensitive nuclear power sites. The information has caused a stir among security agencies in Britain and across the world.

The report has emerged from an internal Royal Marines email and from intelligence sources. According to it, attackers or espionage groups backed by Iran may try to reach Britain's nuclear facilities. The same internal Royal Marines communication says Iranian attackers may use guerrilla methods rather than conventional warfare. On receiving this confidential information, Britain's intelligence agency MI5 and military security forces have gone on high alert.

In view of the threat, Britain's Ministry of Defence has begun investing about half a billion pounds to strengthen security at key sites and nuclear projects. The government has decided to build a steel-strong security ring around nuclear sites. The fund is paying for more than steel fencing. Anti-drone systems, modern radar and the deployment of special commando units are also under way. A modern sensor system is being installed along the fence so that no intruder can get in. Britain's defence chiefs have also carried out a fresh review of security at all the country's military and nuclear sites.

Britain's biggest fear is drone attacks. It has been reported that last year Ukraine attacked projects in Russia that were considered extremely secure, using drones, and surprised Russia and the whole world. Iran too has a large stockpile of similar suicide (kamikaze) drones. Britain therefore does not want to take any risk.

The seriousness of the threat can also be gauged from the fact that US military aircraft were recently moved to a safe location from RAF Mildenhall in Britain. The precaution was taken after a strong possibility of an Iranian drone attack was raised. Earlier, in October, the US had also withdrawn its bombers from RAF Fairford for security reasons.

Three reasons have been cited for why Britain fears Iran so much. The first is its NATO membership and the US military bases. Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a direct warning that if the US and Israel attack Tehran, Iran will target US military bases in Britain and Europe. Britain is the closest friend of the US and an important NATO member. Several major US air and military bases operate on its soil. In a confrontation with the US, Britain has therefore automatically come into Iran's line of fire.

The second reason is Iran's network in Britain and its easy access there. According to security experts, it is relatively easier for Iran to enter Britain and carry out covert operations there than in the US. Iranian nationals and several organisations have a large presence in Britain. There is also frequent talk that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holds large property in Britain. Intelligence agencies therefore fear that Iran could easily get local sleeper cells to attack sensitive sites in Britain.

The third reason is small drones and missiles that can evade radar. In the past few years Iran has made major progress in developing low-cost small drones and precision-strike missiles. The biggest danger of these small drones is that they fly at very low altitude and are very hard to detect or identify with conventional radar. If even one such drone hit a site like a nuclear power plant, a major radiological accident could result.