World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Two men convicted of spying on UK-based Iran critics for Tehran
Two men have been found guilty of assisting Iranian intelligence services by conducting surveillance on people in the UK, including two journalists critical of Iran’s government. The case highlights concerns about hostile states using people recruited through social media as proxies to gather information and prepare attacks.
Mostafa Sepahvand and Farhad Javadi Manesh visited addresses linked to the targets, took photographs and videos, and researched them online between August 2024 and March 2025. The court heard Sepahvand used ChatGPT to find journalist Mojtaba Pourmohsen’s home address and discussed a possible £150,000 payment for a violent attack; the targets also included broadcaster Kambiz Hosseini and UK Lawyers for Israel founder Jonathan Turner. Hosseini and his family faced threats and left their homes in Iran, while Hosseini had to leave his home and stop working as a comedian.
In short
- Two men were convicted of aiding Iranian intelligence.
- Their surveillance targeted two UK-based Iranian journalists and a lawyer.
- The court heard of a proposed £150,000 payment for an attack.
Explained simply
Iran’s government has faced criticism from journalists and activists, including people who have moved abroad. UK-based journalists Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini have reported on or criticised Iran, and Hosseini has also worked as a comedian and broadcaster.
UK authorities say Iranian intelligence services sought information about people in Britain by recruiting others to watch them. Such surveillance can include visiting their homes, taking photographs and researching their movements. The case also involved Jonathan Turner, who founded UK Lawyers for Israel.
The case matters because it concerns the safety of people living in Britain and how foreign states may try to monitor or intimidate critics abroad. It also raises questions about the use of online contacts to recruit people for intelligence gathering.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “Two men found guilty of helping Iran try to ‘eliminate’ UK-based journalists”.