Three alleged Iranian spies charged with targeting UK-based journalists

Three alleged Iranian spies have appeared in court charged with targeting UK-based journalists so that “serious violence” could be inflicted on them.

Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, all from London, appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

They are accused of targeting individual journalists working for Iran International, an independent media organisation based in London.

The three defendants were granted temporary leave to remain in the UK after claiming asylum. They arrived in the UK, including by small boats, between 2016 and 2022. Mr Sepahvand arrived in 2016 concealed in a lorry.

They are charged with committing offences under the National Security Act between 2024 and this year. The three men were arrested two weeks ago.

The trio are charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service, namely that of Iran, in carrying out UK-related activities and knew or ought to have reasonably known their conduct was likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.

Mr Sepahvand is also charged with engaging in surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research with the intention of committing serious violence against a person in the UK.

Mr Manesh and Mr Noori are also charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention that serious violence against a person in the UK would be committed by others.

It is alleged they carried out surveillance with a view to locating journalists associated with Iran International.

Iran International produces coverage that is critical of the current regime in Iran and has been proscribed in Iran as a terrorist organisation.

The three defendants appeared in the dock wearing grey tracksuits flanked by eight guards. Mr Sepahvand was in a wheelchair.

No pleas were indicated by the men. District Judge Annabel Pilling remanded them in custody to appear the Old Bailey on 6 June.