UK Accuses Three Iranians of Spying, Plotting to Attack London Journalist

Three Iranian men went on trial in London on Tuesday, accused of conducting surveillance for Tehran to prepare a violent attack against at least one journalist based in the British capital.

Prosecutors allege the operation targeted critics of the Iranian government, including two journalists at the Farsi-language broadcaster Iran International.

Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Noori, 57, have pleaded not guilty.

All three face charges under the U.K.’s National Security Act.

Surveillance of Tehran’s Critics

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors the defendants gathered information between August 2024 and February 2025 that could assist Iranian intelligence.

Their intended outcome, he alleged, was serious violence against one or more targets, both to punish criticism of Tehran and discourage others from speaking out.

The men visited locations associated with Iran International journalists Kambiz Hosseini and Mojtaba Pourmohsen.

Mobile network records placed all three at Hosseini’s residential address, the court heard.

Hosseini, a political satirist, has reportedly faced prolonged threats and intimidation from Iranian intelligence services.

Pourmohsen is also a poet and writer.

Another person allegedly targeted was Jonathan Turner, a lawyer and founding member of U.K. Lawyers for Israel.

Iran International has criticized the Iranian government and supported opposition groups, Emlyn Jones said.

Tehran has designated the broadcaster a terrorist organization.

Alleged Payment and Attack Role

Sepahvand was allegedly designated to carry out an attack. Prosecutors said he sought £150,000 and assistance resolving a theft conviction in Iran in exchange for his participation.

A voice message presented to jurors contained complaints about the information his alleged handlers supplied to locate targets.

“If the person (the target) is inside (the address), they (his paymasters) pay the £150,000, and I'll finish him or her off,” Sepahvand was quoted as saying.

The defendants acknowledge visiting the locations and recording photographs and video, according to the prosecution.

Sepahvand maintains that he acted under coercion and out of fear.

Prosecutors rejected that account, arguing that the voice message showed a willing participant and contained no reference to threats against him.

Manesh and Noori say they did not know their activities were assisting Iranian intelligence.

Separate Violence Charges

Sepahvand additionally faces a charge involving surveillance, reconnaissance, and open-source research with the intention of committing serious violence.

Manesh and Noori face additional charges involving surveillance and reconnaissance intended to enable serious violence by others.

The Iranian-born defendants were living in London when arrested. The trial is expected to run for up to six weeks.