Three Iranians accused of spying on journalists in UK as part of wider plot to attack dissident TV station staff
Three Iranian nationals are accused of conducting surveillance on dissident journalists in London as part of an alleged plot to harm critics of the Tehran regime. The prosecution alleges they gathered detailed information about targets working for Iran International, a news agency critical of Iran, using online research and physical reconnaissance to enable violence against those who voice opposition. The case highlights an alleged pattern of Iranian state targeting dissidents and journalists abroad, threatening freedom of expression and press freedom outside Iran's borders.
The three men, Mostafa Sepahvand (41), Farhad Javadi Manesh (46), and Shapoor Noori (57), allegedly surveilled at least two journalists between August 2024 and March 2025. They used ChatGPT to research where targets lived and worked, then conducted physical surveillance including photographing addresses, recording videos, and mapping building layouts and routines. The prosecution claims Sepahvand was intended as the "hitman" to carry out serious violence as "retribution" for the targets' criticism of Iran. The defendants deny some elements: Manesh and Noori claim they didn't know they were working for Iranian intelligence, whilst Sepahvand argues he deliberately did poor work to prevent the intelligence service from obtaining useful information.
- Three men accused of spying on journalists for Iranian regime
- Alleged plot to harm dissident critics targeting Iran International
- Surveillance took place in London over eight months in 2024-25
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Iran International is a Persian-language news outlet based in London that provides critical reporting on the Iranian government and is an important source of information for opponents of the regime. Many Iranian journalists and dissidents have fled the country and settled in the UK and other Western nations to continue their work away from government control. These individuals represent voices that the Iranian government considers threatening to its interests.
Iran has long been accused of targeting its critics and dissidents who live abroad, attempting to intimidate or harm those who continue to speak against the regime from outside its borders. This pattern of alleged state harassment raises serious questions about the safety of journalists and opposition figures, even in countries considered safer havens. Such incidents suggest that critical voices may face threats regardless of where they are based.
This case concerns allegations that individuals conducted surveillance of journalists, apparently as part of an alleged attempt to threaten or harm critics of the Iranian government. It reflects the serious risks faced by those who work for outlets like Iran International, which broadcasts to audiences both inside and outside Iran. The case highlights concerns about whether journalists and dissidents who criticise Iran can work safely whilst based in Western countries.