Trial of Three Iranian Spies for Targeting Journalists in London
Three Iranian spies are currently on trial in Woolwich Crown Court, accused of conducting surveillance on journalists associated with a London-based Persian news channel that is critical of the Iranian government. Prosecutors allege that the group not only spied on these journalists but also plotted to violently harm at least one of them.
The defendants, Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, face charges of engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's foreign intelligence service between August 2024 and March 2025. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones emphasized the risks faced by those who criticize the Iranian regime, citing historical instances of violence against dissenters, including the 1989 death order against Salman Rushdie and the 2022 stabbing of the author in New York.
During the trial, Emlyn Jones stated that the Iranian regime has targeted journalists and others deemed hostile or critical. He noted that the ultimate goal of the defendants was to inflict serious violence on their targets as a form of retribution for their criticisms.
Surveillance Tactics of the Defendants Revealed
The group allegedly surveilled journalists Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini, both of whom work for Iran International, as well as Jonathan Turner, a founding member of U.K. Lawyers for Israel. Evidence presented in court included messages revealing that the spies were aware of specific details about Hosseini, including the color and make of his car and even the name of his dog, which raised concerns about the psychological impact on the targeted individuals.
Cleared to File
In one message, Sepahvand reportedly stated he would "finish off" a target for a payment of 150,000 pounds (approximately $199,000). While Sepahvand claims he was coerced into conducting the surveillance and deliberately performed poorly, the prosecution dismissed this assertion as "entirely bogus." Manesh and Noori have also denied knowledge of their actions being linked to Iranian intelligence.
All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The trial continues as the prosecution seeks to establish the extent of the defendants' activities and their connections to the Iranian regime.
