Three Iranian Men Face Trial in London Over Alleged Spying on Iran International Journalists

Three Iranian nationals went on trial at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, accused of conducting surveillance on UK-based journalists as part of a plot to enable "serious violence" against critics of the Tehran government. Prosecutors allege the men acted on behalf of Iranian intelligence, targeting employees of Iran International, a Persian-language satellite broadcaster headquartered in London that has long been a thorn in the side of the Islamic Republic.

The defendants are Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Noori, 57. All three were born in Iran but had been living in the UK, having arrived between 2016 and 2022 after claiming asylum and being granted temporary leave to remain. Each defendant, assisted by an interpreter in the dock, denies all charges brought under the National Security Act, including assisting a foreign intelligence service.

According to the prosecution's opening statement, Sepahvand was assigned to carry out a physical attack, while Manesh and Noori handled surveillance and reconnaissance. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the jury that the three men visited addresses linked to their targets, took photographs and videos, and conducted online research on the individuals they were monitoring. He characterised their activity as "very obviously a form of spying."

The court heard that Sepahvand does not dispute his involvement in the operation but claims he participated out of fear of what would happen if he refused. The prosecution rejected that explanation as "an entirely bogus claim," arguing instead that his true motives were financial gain and a desire to have a criminal conviction for theft in Iran "fixed." Jones told the jury that Sepahvand "quite explicitly" sought something specific in return for his work: the removal of his Iranian criminal record.

Sepahvand was allegedly in contact with two men using Iranian telephone numbers during the period under investigation. Manesh and Noori are expected to argue in their defence that they were unaware they were carrying out surveillance on behalf of the Iranian state. All three men face charges under the National Security Act 2023, a relatively new piece of legislation introduced to modernise Britain's counter-espionage framework and strengthen the tools available to prosecutors in cases involving hostile state activity.

The prosecution identified Iran International as the primary focus of the alleged spying. The channel, which broadcasts into Iran and is frequently critical of the regime in Tehran, has been declared a "terrorist organisation" by the Iranian government. Jones said at least two journalists connected to the outlet were surveilled, and at least one was intended to be "subjected to serious violence" as retribution and "to try to silence and deter others who might dare to voice their criticism."

One of the journalists allegedly targeted was named in court as Mojtaba Pourmohsen. Prosecutors said images of Pourmohsen, his workplace, and a hotel where he had previously stayed were discovered in what was described as a "briefing document" on Sepahvand's mobile phone. The court heard that Noori photographed the block of flats where Pourmohsen lived in Brentford, southwest London, in December 2024. Sepahvand and Manesh are also alleged to have travelled to the same location to take photographs and videos.

The jury was told the defendants also possessed a briefing sheet concerning Jonathan Turner, a barrister and founding member of UK Lawyers for Israel, a group that has drawn attention from those hostile to British advocacy on behalf of Israel. The mention of a second target beyond the journalists suggests a broader reconnaissance effort potentially encompassing figures viewed as adversaries by Tehran.

The case is among the most significant to be brought under the National Security Act since it came into force, reflecting growing concern within the UK government about Iranian intelligence operations on British soil. In recent years, British security services have repeatedly warned about threats posed by hostile states, with Iran frequently cited as one of the most active actors. The Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command has led several investigations into alleged plots linked to Tehran, some involving plans to kidnap or kill individuals critical of the Iranian government.

Details of how the defendants entered the UK were also outlined in court. Sepahvand arrived in 2016 concealed in a lorry, while Manesh and Noori both reached Britain by small boat. All subsequently applied for asylum and were granted temporary permission to remain. Their immigration status is likely to feature in the trial, as the prosecution seeks to establish that they exploited the asylum system before allegedly turning to espionage on behalf of a state they had fled.

The trial, presided over by a judge sitting with a jury, is expected to last several weeks. The prosecution's case draws on a combination of physical surveillance evidence, photographs and videos, digital forensics, and communications data linking the defendants to Iranian handlers. Defence teams for the three men will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence and present their accounts, with Manesh and Noori expected to deny knowledge of any foreign intelligence connection and Sepahvand arguing duress.

The outcome could have significant implications for how the UK handles threats against dissident communities and media organisations operating from London. Iran International has previously reported threats against its staff, and the trial's revelations may intensify calls for greater protection for journalists and activists targeted by foreign regimes. The case also underscores the increasing use of proxy operatives — individuals residing in the UK who may be recruited or coerced into carrying out surveillance and other tasks — as a method of projecting state power beyond Iran's borders.

The trial continues.