Three Iranian men accused of suspected espionage have been detained by UK authorities. They allegedly took part in activities aimed at assisting a foreign intelligence service, according to the police.
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UK cops slapped charges on three Iranian men for spying, suspected of working for Iran's intelligence services from August 2024 to February 2025.
The cops spilled the beans in a statement on Saturday, revealing that the three blokes were nabbed for offenses under the National Security Act following a relentless counterterrorism investigation.
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The three suspects—Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55—were accused of activities that could help a foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024, and February 16, 2025, the police said, naming the mysterious state as Iran.
The court date for these rogues is penciled in for later on Saturday at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, shared, "These charges—grave under the National Security Act—have surfaced following an intricate and swift-paced investigation."
Sepahvand didn't just spy but was also charged with snooping around, gathering intel, and open-source reconnaissance, all with the intention of causing severe violence in the United Kingdom, according to cops and prosecutors. On the other hand, Manesh and Noori were also nabbed for doing the same, planning that the violence would be carried out by others.
A fourth Iranian bloke, 31, was nabbed for interrogation as part of the investigation but was freed without further action on Thursday.
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The LowdownOn the same day as these arrests, five other Iranians were apprehended by the police in relation to another counterterrorism probe. The UK's Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, referred to these as some of the colossal investigations of their kind in recent years[1][2].
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, previously voiced concern over the arrests of Iranian citizens by the British authorities[1].
The UK is planning on cracking down on Iranian influence by implementing measures under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which aim to fortify the UK's national security against covert foreign influences[1]. These measures are due to go live later this year, potentially demanding regular folk working inside the UK for Iran, its intelligence services, or the Revolutionary Guard to register or face the big house[1].
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- The investigation leading to the charges against three Iranian men for spying in the UK, suspected of working for Iran's intelligence services from August 2024 to February 2025, is part of the colossal counterterrorism investigations recently carried out by the UK's authorities.
- Separately, on the same day as these arrests, five other Iranians were apprehended by the police, marking another significant counterterrorism probe that underscores concerns over Iranian terrorism and influence in the UK.
- As a response to growing concerns about Iranian influence, the UK is planning to implement measures under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which aim to strengthen the UK's national security against covert foreign influences by potentially demanding individuals working within the UK for Iran, its intelligence services, or the Revolutionary Guard to register or face legal consequences.
