Three Iranian nationals appeared in a London court this week, accused of spying on journalists and activists in Britain as part of an alleged plot directed by Tehran's intelligence services. The case, heard at Woolwich Crown Court, highlights the growing tensions between the UK and Iran over the treatment of dissidents abroad.
The defendants—Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57—face charges under Britain's National Security Act, a law introduced to give authorities broader powers to counter foreign state threats. They are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's foreign intelligence service between August 2024 and March 2025. All three have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told the jury that criticising the Iranian government comes with risks, and that Iran International, a London-based satellite news channel, has been a particular target because of its opposition to Tehran. He referenced the 1989 fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini against author Salman Rushdie and the 2022 stabbing of Rushdie in New York as examples of the dangers faced by those who speak out.
Surveillance and planned violence
The prosecution alleges that the three men conducted surveillance on at least two journalists working for Iran International—Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini—as well as Jonathan Turner, a founding member of UK Lawyers for Israel. They are said to have visited addresses linked to these individuals, taken photographs and video footage, and prepared for an attack that Sepahvand was reportedly meant to carry out.
According to Emlyn Jones, the group's "ultimate aim was that one of these individuals, and perhaps more than one, should be exposed to serious violence, an act which was undoubtedly in retaliation for their criticism of the Iranian government, and also intended to create fear and to try to silence others."
The defendants admit to having visited the locations and taken images, but they dispute the reasons behind their actions. Their defence is expected to argue that they were not acting on behalf of Iranian intelligence, though the prosecution maintains that the evidence points to a coordinated operation.
The trial comes at a time of heightened friction between London and Tehran. British authorities have repeatedly accused Iran of targeting dissidents on UK soil, including through assassination plots and kidnap attempts. In recent years, several cases have come to light, reflecting a broader pattern of Iranian operations against critics across Europe.
Iran International, which broadcasts from London, has long been a thorn in the side of the Iranian regime. Its journalists have faced threats and harassment, and the channel has been banned in Iran. The case also echoes concerns about the safety of exiled journalists, a theme explored in reports on exiled Russian and Belarusian journalists.
Legal experts note that the National Security Act, passed in 2023, has given UK prosecutors new tools to tackle state-sponsored espionage and interference. The act broadens the definition of espionage and introduces offences related to foreign interference, making it easier to charge individuals who assist hostile states.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with the jury hearing detailed evidence about the alleged surveillance and the defendants' movements. The outcome will be closely watched, not only in Britain but across Europe, where concerns about Iranian intelligence activities have been growing.
For now, the three men remain in custody. The case serves as a reminder of the risks faced by those who challenge authoritarian regimes from abroad, and of the legal measures European states are adopting to protect them.
