British intelligence agencies have alerted their American counterparts to a credible threat involving an Iran-backed drone plot targeting a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The warning, described as containing specific operational details, was passed to the National Security Council and the Secret Service earlier this week. The event in question is understood to be a UFC exhibition scheduled to take place on the South Lawn, a gathering of political and entertainment elite that would have offered a high-value symbolic target.
White House officials declined to comment on security procedures but confirmed that the Secret Service has reviewed and reinforced protective measures. The event proceeded without incident, though attendance was reduced and aerial surveillance drones were deployed.
The intelligence, which draws on signals intercepts and human sources, suggests that the plot was in its final planning stages. Iranian officials have not responded to requests for comment. The Islamic Republic has previously denied involvement in assassination plots against former Trump administration officials.
This is not the first time British intelligence has disrupted Iran-linked operations. In 2022, MI5 foiled a plot to kidnap a British-Iranian journalist. The UK's GCHQ has also tracked Iranian cyber attacks against think tanks and academic institutions.
The revelation comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. The United States has recently imposed new sanctions on Iranian drone and missile programmes. Iran, meanwhile, has accelerated its nuclear enrichment in defiance of international nuclear watchdog demands.
Analysts at the Royal United Services Institute said the plot, if confirmed, would represent a significant escalation in Iranian asymmetric capabilities and willingness to strike on US soil. 'Drones have changed the calculus for state actors seeking plausible deniability,' said a former intelligence officer.
The White House has not commented on any changes to future event security. The Secret Service stated that it 'routinely adjusts protective measures based on threat assessments' and that 'the public should have confidence in the security of White House events.'
The incident is likely to accelerate discussions within the US government about counter-drone technologies and the expanding threat landscape in Washington.
Reporting contributed by this correspondent. This is a developing story.
