Iranian men accused of spying targeted journalists for 'serious violence', court hears
Three Iranian men are on trial in London for allegedly conducting surveillance on journalists working for the UK-based channel Iran International. Prosecutors claim the men were acting on behalf of the Iranian regime to facilitate serious violence against critics of the government.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing concerns regarding transnational repression and the safety of journalists operating in the UK from foreign state actors.
Image source, Julia Quenzler Image caption, The defendants, pictured in a court sketch during an appearance in May 2025, deny all the charges
Three Iranian men have gone on trial in London accused of spying for Iran on UK-based journalists, who were being targeted so "serious violence" could be inflicted on them.
The prosecution said Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, was to carry out the attack, with Farhad Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Noori, 57, doing the surveillance and reconnaissance. All three were born in Iran but were living in London.
The jury at Woolwich Crown Court heard that Sepahvand does not deny his involvement but said he did it out of fear of the consequences of refusing.
The prosecution said that is "an entirely bogus claim", adding that he did it for money and to have a criminal conviction for theft in Iran "fixed".
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