Three Iranian Men Face Trial in London Over Espionage and Plotting Violence
Key Takeaways
- Three Iranian men are on trial in Woolwich Crown Court accused of spying on London-based journalists for Iranian intelligence.
- Prosecution presented evidence showing alleged plots of physical violence and a £150,000 bounty demand.
- Targets included Iran International broadcasters and members of the UK Lawyers for Israel organisation.
Three Iranian nationals—Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi-Manesh, and Shapoor Qaleh-Ali-Khani Nouri—have appeared in London's Woolwich Crown Court accused of conducting hostile surveillance and intelligence gathering for Iranian state security. Prosecutor William Jones told the jury on Tuesday that the trio tracked London-based Iranian journalists and a British legal organisation on behalf of Tehran's intelligence apparatus, emphasizing that the central dispute concerns their intent rather than the physical acts of surveillance.
According to the prosecution, the defendants targeted Iran International journalists Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini, monitoring their residences, commutes, and associates between August 2024 and March 2025. Data extracted by counter-terrorism police revealed phone communications showing Sepahvand was in contact with handlers in Iran, reportedly demanding £150,000 to assassinate a target and inquiring about resolving legal troubles in Iran. WhatsApp logs, cellular tower tracking, and vehicle SIM data placed the defendants repeatedly near targeted locations, including the offices of the UK Lawyers for Israel group.
While all three admitted to collecting information, Javadi-Manesh and Nouri claimed ignorance regarding the ultimate purpose of the task. Sepahvand acknowledged gathering material for the Iranian regime but asserted he acted under duress, claiming he deliberately undermined the mission. However, prosecutors allege the operation reached beyond espionage, detailing plans for direct violence, with Sepahvand purportedly positioned to execute a physical attack supported by reconnaissance from the other two men.
Presiding Judge Cheema-Grubb instructed the jury to set aside broader geopolitical tensions between London and Tehran and focus solely on the evidence presented by both legal teams. The prosecution framed the incident within Tehran's established history of intimidating and targeting diaspora dissidents, journalists, and critics. The trial is scheduled to run for at least two weeks, though prosecutors noted preparations have been made for proceedings to last up to six weeks.
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This report was synthesized from BBC Persian under journalistic fair use.