Three Iranian men accused of working with Tehran’s intelligence services to target journalists in the United Kingdom have pleaded not guilty during a preparatory hearing at London’s Central Criminal Court.
Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, appeared via video link from a high-security prison in south London. The men have been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between 14 August 2024 and 16 February 2025.
Sepahvand faces additional charges of carrying out surveillance, reconnaissance, and open-source research during the same period, allegedly with the intent of committing serious violence in the United Kingdom. Manesh and Noori are accused of similar surveillance activities, with the prosecution claiming the intention was that serious violence would be carried out by others.
The alleged targets of the plot were staff members of the Persian-language broadcaster Iran International.
At Friday’s hearing, Farhad Manesh’s application for bail was refused by Judge Mrs Cheema-Grubb. All three defendants will remain in custody until their trial begins on 5 October 2026 at Woolwich Crown Court in London.
The case marks the first prosecution of Iranian nationals under the UK’s 2023 National Security Act, legislation created to counter threats from hostile states.
Iran International, which was founded in 2017, has repeatedly reported threats against its journalists, particularly following the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran. The broadcaster has accused the Iranian authorities of orchestrating a sustained campaign against its staff, including alleged hacking attempts linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Rights groups have also expressed concern over the safety of exiled Iranian journalists in Britain, warning of increased intimidation and harassment targeting their families abroad.
