Vahid Aberi, a 39-year-old British-Iranian man from Liverpool, has been accused of offering to assist Iranian intelligence services and will face trial. Prosecutors allege that he communicated with someone he believed was an Iranian operative, but who was in fact an undercover UK counter-terrorism officer; the case concerns alleged conduct intended to assist a foreign intelligence service.

The alleged activity took place between 17 December 2025 and 16 July 2026 and included setting up an email account, buying a phone, completing a questionnaire and travelling to London to collect a burner phone. Prosecutors say Aberi also collected a burgundy container purportedly containing a drone; he was arrested on 15 July and a burgundy bag was recovered from his car. He denies the allegation, remains in custody, and has a provisional trial date of 15 February next year at Preston Crown Court.