The trial of three Iranian men accused of spying for the Islamic Republic's intelligence service and tracking Iran International journalists has begun at Woolwich Crown Court in London. According to Reuters, the prosecutor told the jury on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, that the three men spied on critical journalists based in Britain in order to pave the way for attacks on them in retaliation for their criticism of the Islamic Republic.
The defendants are Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57. All three deny two charges under Britain's National Security Act. They are the first Iranian nationals to be charged under the law, which was passed in 2023.
The charges at Woolwich court
According to the prosecutor, the defendants researched at least two Iran International journalists, visited addresses linked to them and took photos and videos to prepare an attack that Mostafa Sepahvand was to carry out. Bill Emlyn Jones, the prosecutor in the case, told the jury that eliminating critical and dissenting voices has in effect become a standing policy of the Islamic Republic.
According to the indictment, these activities continued from 14 August 2024 to 16 February 2025. In addition to assisting a foreign intelligence service, Sepahvand is accused of reconnaissance and research with the intent to commit serious violence, while the other two defendants are accused of reconnaissance with the intent that others would commit serious violent acts.
The defendants' defence
According to Reuters, Javadi Manesh and Noori say they did not know their work was benefiting the Islamic Republic's intelligence. Sepahvand has accepted that he was aware of this, but says he did it under pressure and threats. Iran International had previously reported that all three defendants denied the charges at a preliminary hearing in September 2025 and are being held in custody.
Background of threats against Iran International journalists
This trial follows other cases concerning the Islamic Republic's activities in Europe, including the charging of two Iranian nationals with scouting a synagogue in Manchester for an attack and a report by German domestic intelligence on covert purchases for the missile programme. In June 2026, two Romanian men were also convicted of stabbing Pouria Zeraati, an Iran International presenter, in London in March 2024. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the judge said at sentencing that the evidence strongly indicated the attack had been carried out on behalf of the Iranian state.
The British prosecutor says the three defendants took photos and videos of the journalists' addresses to prepare an attack on Iran International journalists.
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