Iran war timeline
The war between the United States and Iran: the strikes, the attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the suspected plot against RAF Fairford and the talks to end the war.
6 timelines from the outlets of our UK edition, 27 September to 6 November 2026, oldest first. Each one gathers the articles about one development, day by day.
Latest timeline: US carries out another round of 'minor' strikes on Iran, Trump says
- Suspected RAF Fairford plot: Burnham says Iran's Revolutionary Guard 'almost certainly' directed it
Five British men from London were arrested near RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire base used by the US Air Force, on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences, leading to the evacuation of nearby villagers, and were later released on bail; a sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London and also bailed, and on 6 October a seventh man, British, was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences as a property in Westminster was searched. On 4 October the US withdrew its dozen B-1 bombers from the base: Marco Rubio declined to link the move to the plot, President Trump said they were pulled in the face of 'some threats', and Downing Street insisted the base was safe. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who had said there were strong indications that Iran played a part, told MPs on Monday 12 October that the incident was 'almost certainly' directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and vowed to sanction Iran, according to Metro UK, The Independent and the Evening Standard. The Iranian ambassador was summoned to show 'Britain will not tolerate threats', the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, BBC News saying Miliband had summoned the ambassador.
- Trump sends a third aircraft carrier and 9,000 more troops to the Middle East
Trump is sending 9,000 more troops to the Middle East, a deployment that includes a third aircraft carrier, after threatening new strikes on Iran, The Independent reported. According to The Guardian, the deployment underscores the evolving complexity of Trump's war against Iran as US midterm elections loom.
- RAF Fairford: two men charged with national security offences, believed by police to be assisting Iran
Two men were re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran over the RAF Fairford incident, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported on Tuesday 20 October, Counter Terrorism Policing saying it was 'highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement' in the activity that took place close to RAF Fairford, an incident of 27 September according to The Independent. A 24-year-old UK national and a 25-year-old UK/Iranian national, both from Westminster, were detained on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service in breach of the 2023 National Security Act, police said, according to The Guardian, and on Wednesday 21 October police were given more time to question the two men, Sky News reported. On Tuesday 27 October two men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, were charged under the National Security Act, the Financial Times reported, Mohmed Abdulkarim with assisting a foreign intelligence service and Nouman Essghir with entering a prohibited place, according to the Manchester Evening News, The Guardian citing the CPS on the two charges. Police said the two men charged are both British nationals and were believed to be assisting Iran, the Evening Standard reported, and two British men charged over the incident appeared in court, which heard that the RAF Fairford suspects were co-ordinated by a handler known as 'Ali', Sky News reported.
- Iran designates the RAF and Royal Navy as 'terrorist organisations', and Streeting condemns the move
Iran has designated the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as 'terrorist organisations' and warned the UK will 'bear responsibility for their consequences', Metro UK reported on Sunday 1 November. On Monday 2 November Defence Secretary Wes Streeting condemned Iran for labelling the RAF and Royal Navy terrorist organisations, joking about putting press cuttings of the Iranian announcement up in Streeting's toilet, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.
- Trump administration held secret talks with Iran on deporting Iranians during the war, court documents show
The Trump administration held secret talks to deport Iranians even as the war presses on, court documents show, The Guardian reported on Thursday 5 November, writing that the development emerges from a lawsuit alleging violations of national immigration regulations. Court documents reveal President Donald Trump's administration held secret talks with Iran about deporting Iranians during the ongoing war, The Independent reported in an AP exclusive.
- US carries out another round of 'minor' strikes on Iran, Trump says
The United States has carried out another round of 'minor' strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump said, The Guardian reported on Saturday 7 November. The president's announcement comes days after an earlier attack on Iran was made public, and as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have accelerated, according to The Guardian.
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