The Metropolitan Police arrested three Iranian men suspected of aiding Iranian intelligence in targeting individuals in Britain, leading to much debate on state threats in the UK. The defendants, Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, face charges under the National Security Act and have been linked to surveillance activities targeting journalists.
Iranian Nationals Face Charges in Alleged Spying Operation in the UK
Iranian Nationals Face Charges in Alleged Spying Operation in the UK
Three Iranian men are accused of collaborating with Iran’s intelligence services to target individuals within Britain amid escalating concerns over state-sponsored violence.
Three Iranian men were brought to court in London on Saturday, accused of providing assistance to Iran's intelligence service through targeting individuals in the UK. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39; Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44; and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, have been charged with acts likely to aid a foreign intelligence service between August 14 of the previous year and February 16.
The men stand accused of conducting surveillance as part of a scheme believed to involve serious violence against an unnamed individual. Their arrests have fueled growing anxieties regarding the actions of Iranian agents focusing on British citizens and residents.
According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, these men were detained on May 3, with Iran identified as the foreign state implicated in the charges. Reports suggest that the accused were primarily targeting journalists connected to Iran International, an independent Persian-language channel based in London, known for its critical stance against the Iranian regime.
All three defendants had previously entered the UK illegally between 2016 and 2022, with two having arrived on small boats from France. British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the necessity for the legal process to unfold without interference, stating, "We will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil.”
Cooper further asserted that while legal proceedings took precedence, action would be pursued to address the broader implications of the case. Last year, MI5’s chief, Ken McCallum, mentioned the increasing threats for British citizens stemming from Iran, highlighting ongoing investigations into at least 20 Iranian-backed plots since early 2022.
