Three Iranian Men on Trial in London Accused of Spying for Tehran and Plotting Violence Against Journalists

Three Iranian nationals went on trial at Woolwich Crown Court in London this week, accused of orchestrating a surveillance and reconnaissance operation on behalf of the Iranian state targeting journalists working for a Persian-language television channel that is highly critical of the Tehran government. Prosecutors allege that the men were gathering intelligence on employees of Iran International, a London-headquartered satellite broadcaster that beams its output into Iran, with the intention that at least one of the targets would be subjected to serious violence as retribution for his journalistic work.

The defendants have been named as Mostafa Sepahvand, aged 41, Farhad Manesh, aged 46, and Shapoor Noori, aged 57. All three were born in Iran but had been living in the United Kingdom prior to their arrest. They each appeared in the dock assisted by an interpreter and deny every charge brought against them. The court sketch of their appearance has been widely circulated, with the image capturing the three men sitting together as proceedings began.

According to the prosecution's opening statement, Sepahvand has not denied his involvement in the alleged scheme. Instead, he has claimed that he took part only because he feared the consequences of refusing. Bill Emlyn Jones KC, appearing for the Crown, told the jury that this explanation should be rejected outright, describing it as "an entirely bogus claim". The prosecution argues that Sepahvand's true motivations were financial gain and a desire to have a criminal conviction for theft in Iran resolved in his favour.

The court heard that Sepahvand was in contact with two individuals who held Iranian telephone numbers, suggesting a direct link to actors based in or connected to Iran. Prosecutors allege that Sepahvand was designated as the individual who would carry out the physical attack, while Manesh and Noori were responsible for conducting surveillance and reconnaissance on the intended targets. This division of labour, the Crown argues, points to a coordinated and deliberate operation rather than an isolated act.

Manesh and Noori are expected to mount a different defence, telling the court that they were unaware the surveillance they were allegedly carrying out was being performed on behalf of the Iranian state. Both men, like their co-defendant, were granted temporary leave to remain in the UK after claiming asylum. The court heard that Sepahvand arrived in Britain in 2016, concealed inside a lorry, while the other two arrived by small boat. Their arrival dates fall between 2016 and 2022, according to the evidence presented.

The targets of the alleged operation were journalists working for Iran International, a Persian-language satellite channel that has established its headquarters in London. The broadcaster is known for its critical coverage of the Tehran regime and has been declared a "terrorist organisation" by the Iranian government, a designation that underscores the deep hostility between the channel and the authorities in Iran. Prosecutors say at least two journalists connected to the channel were placed under surveillance.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the jury that at least one of those journalists was to be "subjected to serious violence" as a form of retribution. He also suggested that the broader aim was to suppress dissent by intimidating others who might be considering voicing criticism of the Iranian government. The Crown's case, he said, is that the defendants were engaged in what amounts to "very obviously a form of spying", involving visits to addresses linked to the targets, the taking of photographs and videos, and online research into the individuals concerned.

One journalist specifically named in court as a target was Mojtaba Pourmohsen. Prosecutors allege that images of him, his workplace and a hotel where he had been living were discovered in what they described as a "briefing document" found on Sepahvand's mobile phone. The court heard that Noori took photographs of the block of flats in Brentford, southwest London, where Pourmohsen lived, in December 2024. Sepahvand and Manesh are also alleged to have travelled to the same location to take photographs and record video footage.

The prosecution's case extends beyond journalists. The jury was told that a "briefing sheet" concerning a barrister named Jonathan Turner was also allegedly found among the defendants' materials. Turner was described as a founding member of a group called UK Lawyers for Israel, indicating that the alleged surveillance operation may have encompassed a wider set of perceived opponents of the Iranian government, rather than being confined to media figures alone.

All three men face charges under the National Security Act, including the offence of assisting a foreign intelligence service. The legislation, introduced in recent years, provides the legal framework for prosecuting individuals accused of working on behalf of hostile state actors. The charges carry significant potential penalties if convictions are secured, reflecting the seriousness with which UK authorities treat allegations of state-sponsored espionage on British soil.

The prosecution's decision to highlight Sepahvand's alleged desire to have his Iranian theft conviction "fixed" offers a window into what investigators believe was a transactional relationship with Iranian intelligence. Jones told the jury that Sepahvand "quite explicitly" wanted something specific in return for his work, rather than being motivated solely by money. This claim will be central to the Crown's effort to rebut the defence argument that Sepahvand acted under duress and out of fear.

The case also raises broader questions about the safety of journalists and activists from hostile states who seek refuge in the UK. Iran International has long been a focal point of Iranian government hostility, and the allegation that its staff were being surveilled and marked for violence will heighten concerns about the reach of Tehran's intelligence operations into the Iranian diaspora in Britain. The trial is likely to be followed closely by press freedom organisations and human rights groups.

The proceedings at Woolwich Crown Court continue, with the jury expected to hear further evidence in the coming days. The outcome will depend on whether the prosecution can convince the panel that the three men were willing participants in a state-directed operation, or whether the defences of duress and ignorance advanced by the accused are accepted. For now, all three defendants maintain their innocence and deny the charges against them.