Someone is trying to frame Tehran for unclaimed strikes and drone attacks on Turkiye and at least one United Kingdom (UK) military base in Cyprus, it has emerged.

As per the details, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has quoted senior military leadership as saying that Iran did not carry out any missile strikes in Turkiye as the country respects its sovereignty.

The clarification came hours after the UK’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that a Shahed-like drone that targeted Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Akrotiri base in Cyprus on March 2 was not launched from Iranian territory. 

The ministry added that RAF Typhoon and F-35B jets continued defensive air operations across the Middle East, supported by Voyager air-to-air refuelling, and that the UK had resupplied air defence systems to British and allied bases.

Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles are also expected to arrive in Cyprus in the coming days.

Amid confusion over unclaimed strikes, American commentator Tucker Carlson has claimed that Mossad operatives were arrested in Qatar and Saudi Arabia while planning bombings, suggesting these operations could be aimed at creating disorder and framing Iran to draw Gulf states further into conflict.

Saudi experts told Al Arabiya News that Mossad agents had been arrested in both countries and were reportedly planning false-flag bombings to involve the Gulf states in war with Iran.

Earlier, Iranian officials, quoted by Middle East Eye, also said that some attacks on Gulf energy sites, including oil refineries and ports, were carried out by Israel to provoke Gulf countries. 

The reports also sent social media intro frenzy as thousands on X claimed Israel was covertly launching suicide drones targeting Gulf countries and NATO, intending to blame Iran.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Esmail Baghaei also told Drop Site that Israel had historically used such tactics to involve other nations in conflict, citing a high probability of misuse in the current situation. 

Cypriot officials suggested the Akrotiri drone (an Iranian-designed Shahed type) was most likely launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon rather than Iran.