Dramatic trial in the UK: 3 Iranians exposed as spies
Three Iranian citizens are standing trial in London on charges of espionage and surveillance of journalists from Iran International. According to the prosecution, the operations were intended to lead to violent harm against targets on British soil. The defendants deny the charges.
Three Iranian citizens are standing trial in the UK on charges of espionage and surveillance of journalists associated with opponents of the Iranian regime. The trial opened today at the Royal Courts of Justice in Woolwich, London. The defendants are Mostafa Safahvand (41), Farhad Javadi Manesh (46), and Shapur Kalahali Khani Nouri (57). According to the indictment, between August 2024 and March 2025, the three conducted surveillance and patrols around the addresses of employees of the Iran International channel, which broadcasts from London and is considered a sharp critic of the Tehran regime. The prosecutor stated that these were actions carried out 'on behalf of the Iranian regime,' with the ultimate goal of applying 'serious violence' against the targets. One of the targets is journalist Mojtaba Pourmohsen and lawyer Jonathan Turner. The three deny the charges. Safahvand is expected to argue that he was forced to act under threats. The three were arrested last year and arrived in the UK through irregular means between 2016 and 2022. The trial is expected to last up to six weeks.