Iranian Spying Charges: Three Accused Appear in Court
Three Iranian nationals, accused of espionage, face trial at the Old Bailey court in London
In a significant turn of events, three individuals -Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55- have been charged with spying activities and offenses under the National Security Act. The trio, who allegedly targeted journalists from Iran International, faced the judge at the Old Bailey recently.
These three men, who entered the UK by unconventional means between 2016 and 2022, now face charges of aiding Iran's foreign intelligence services. Investigations suggest they conducted surveillance, reconnaissance, open-source research, and even planned serious acts of violence against individuals within the UK.
Sepahvand, a resident of St John's Wood, is additionally accused of planning acts of extreme violence against a specific person. Meanwhile, Manesh, a resident of Brent, and Noori, a resident of Ealing, are also charged with similar acts, with the intention that serious violence would be committed by others against another individual.
The accused spoke through a Farsi translator to confirm their identities. The hearing will continue on 26th September, and a preliminary trial is scheduled for 5th October 2026.
The UK government has expressed serious concerns following these arrests. In a statement, they demanded accountability from Iran, citing these actions as a clear violation of UK sovereignty.
Background
The charges against the three men stem from their alleged activities between August 2024 and February 2025. The targeted individuals primarily worked for Iran International, an independent Persian-language broadcaster based in London. The Iranian government has reportedly shown hostility towards this channel due to its critical coverage of the Tehran regime[1][2][3].
UK Response
The UK government has been resolute in its stance against Iranian state threats within its borders. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has emphasized the need for accountability, emphasizing that the UK will not tolerate state-based threats on its soil[1].
The Immigrant Connection
All three men entered the UK illegally. Sepahvand entered in 2016 and claimed asylum, Javadi Manesh arrived by small boat in 2019 and applied for asylum on religious grounds, while Noori's asylum application was rejected in 2024 and is currently under appeal[1]. Noori had previously sought asylum in Germany under a false name but was denied[1].
- The judges overseeing the case are likely to be closely following general news and political developments, considering the alleged spying activities of the accused are connected to Iran, a countryinfamous for its volatile political landscape and international conflicts.
- In addition to the spying charges and potential violations of national security, the accused individuals are also facing crime and justice issues, as they are alleged to have planned acts of violence, showing a significant overlap between war, politics, and crime-and-justice in this case.
