Three Iranian Men on Trial in London Accused of Spying on Journalists Linked to Iran International

Three Iranian men have gone on trial at Woolwich Crown Court in London, accused of conducting espionage on behalf of Tehran against UK-based journalists, with prosecutors alleging that at least one of the targets was marked for "serious violence" as retribution for their work.

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 capital. They each appeared in the dock with an interpreter and deny all charges brought under the National Security Act, including the offence of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the jury that Sepahvand was the individual designated to carry out an attack, while Manesh and Noori were responsible for conducting surveillance and reconnaissance. The court heard that the three men are accused of visiting addresses connected to their targets, capturing photographs and video, and carrying out online research on the individuals they were monitoring. Jones described the activities as "very obviously a form of spying."

The prosecution's case centres on allegations that the men were working on behalf of Iranian intelligence, with Sepahvand reportedly in contact with two men using Iranian telephone numbers. The court heard that Sepahvand does not deny his involvement in the surveillance but claims he participated out of fear of the consequences had he refused.

Jones rejected that explanation as "an entirely bogus claim," telling the jury that Sepahvand's true motivation was financial gain combined with a specific personal objective: he wanted a criminal conviction for theft he had received in Iran to be "fixed" or resolved. "He was not just in it for money. He quite explicitly wants something very particular in return for his work — he wanted his criminal conviction in Iran to be fixed," the prosecutor said.

The targets of the alleged surveillance were journalists working for Iran International, a Persian-language satellite television channel that broadcasts into Iran and is known for its critical coverage of the Tehran government. The channel, which has its headquarters in London, has been declared a "terrorist organisation" by Iranian authorities. Jones told the court that at least two journalists associated with the outlet were subjected to surveillance.

According to the prosecution, at least one of the targeted journalists was to be "subjected to serious violence" as a form of retribution, with the additional aim of "trying to silence and deter others who might dare to voice their criticism" of the Iranian regime. The allegation underscores concerns about the threats faced by journalists working for Persian-language media outlets that are critical of Tehran while operating from outside Iran.

One journalist specifically named in court was Mojtaba Pourmohsen. Prosecutors said that images of Pourmohsen, his workplace, and a hotel where he had previously lived were discovered in a "briefing document" stored on Sepahvand's mobile phone. The court also heard that Noori allegedly took photographs of the block of flats where Pourmohsen lived in Brentford, southwest London, in December 2024. Sepahvand and Manesh are also accused of travelling to the same location to take photos and videos.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants possessed a "briefing sheet" concerning Jonathan Turner, a barrister who was a founding member of a group called UK Lawyers for Israel. The inclusion of this material suggests the surveillance operation may have extended beyond journalists to other individuals perceived as opponents of the Iranian government.

Regarding the other two defendants, the court was told that Manesh and Noori are expected to argue they were unaware they were carrying out surveillance on behalf of Iran. Their defence appears to rest on the claim that they did not know the true nature or purpose of the activities they are alleged to have undertaken.

All three men arrived in the UK between 2016 and 2022 and were granted temporary leave to remain after claiming asylum. Sepahvand entered the country concealed in a lorry in 2016, while the other two arrived by small boats. Their immigration status and routes into the UK are likely to form part of the broader context of the trial.

The case is being heard at Woolwich Crown Court, which has handled a number of high-profile national security cases in recent years. The proceedings are expected to continue, with the jury hearing further evidence about the alleged surveillance operation and the connections between the defendants and Iranian intelligence services.

The trial highlights the ongoing tensions between the UK and Iran, particularly concerning the treatment of dissident journalists and activists operating from British soil. Iran International has been a frequent target of threats from Tehran, and the case is likely to intensify scrutiny of how the UK government protects individuals who are viewed as enemies of foreign states. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for how such espionage cases are prosecuted under the National Security Act, a relatively new piece of legislation that grants authorities broader powers to pursue those accused of acting on behalf of hostile foreign powers.