LONDON — British authorities have charged three Iranian nationals with offences under the National Security Act following a sweeping counter-terrorism investigation that officials say exposes serious threats posed by Iranian-backed operations on UK soil.
The suspects—Mostafa Sepahvand, 39; Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44; and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55—appeared in court in London on Saturday. They are accused of activities likely to assist a foreign intelligence service, with prosecutors identifying the foreign state as Iran. The alleged conduct spans from August 14, 2024, to February 16, 2025.
Prosecutors say the trio were involved in surveillance operations and planned violent attacks, including alleged targeting of journalists linked to Iran International, a Persian-language news outlet based in Britain that is frequently critical of the Iranian regime.
The court heard that Sepahvand is also charged with conducting surveillance and intending to commit serious violence, while Manesh and Noori are accused of supporting others to carry out similar attacks.
All three men were remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear again for a preliminary hearing at the Central Criminal Court on June 6.
Major Espionage and Terror Plot Disrupted
The charges follow the arrests of eight men—including seven Iranian nationals—earlier in May during two large-scale operations. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the counter-terrorism effort as one of the most significant of its kind in recent years.
“These are serious allegations and we will take separate action to address the national security implications of this case,” Cooper said in a statement. “Iran must be held to account for its actions. We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil.”
Four of the eight men arrested have since been released on bail, while one was released without charge. Police say the investigation remains active and is focused on a suspected plot to attack a specific location, which is still being provided security assistance.
Journalists Targeted in Suspected State Plot
Authorities revealed that the charged men allegedly conducted hostile surveillance on individuals affiliated with Iran International. The London-based broadcaster has been previously targeted by Tehran, including in a 2023 incident where an Austrian national was convicted of “hostile reconnaissance” against its headquarters.
In a separate 2023 case, a British journalist of Iranian heritage working for the outlet was stabbed in what officials believe was a politically motivated assault.
The UK’s domestic intelligence chief, Ken McCallum, warned last year that Britain had disrupted at least 20 Tehran-linked plots since 2022 that posed credible threats to individuals inside the country.
Iran Responds to Accusations
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi voiced concern over the arrests, stating Tehran was “disturbed” to learn of the detentions and expressed willingness to cooperate if credible evidence is presented. Another Iranian foreign ministry official dismissed the accusations as “baseless.”
The British government has since placed Iran on the highest tier of its Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, requiring all political activities conducted on its behalf to be fully declared.
Security and Immigration in Political Spotlight
The accused reportedly arrived in the UK by irregular means between 2016 and 2022, including small boat crossings across the English Channel—an issue that has become central in British domestic politics. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to clamp down on human smuggling networks and reduce unauthorized entries.
This latest case has further elevated tensions between London and Tehran and underscored the scale of the Iranian regime’s alleged espionage and influence operations in the West.
Reuters
