Iranian men accused of spying targeted journalists for 'serious violence', court hears
Summary
Three Iranian men are on trial in London for spying on journalists linked to Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel critical of the Iranian government. They are accused of surveying these journalists to enable serious violence against them. The men deny all charges, but one admits involvement, saying he acted out of fear.Key Facts
- The three men are Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Manesh, and Shapoor Noori, all Iranian-born and living in London.
- They face charges under the National Security Act, including helping a foreign intelligence service.
- Sepahvand admitted involvement but claimed he acted due to fear, while the prosecution says he did it for money and to fix a criminal conviction in Iran.
- The journalists targeted worked for Iran International, a TV channel that criticizes the Iranian government and is labeled a terrorist group by Iran.
- The men conducted surveillance by visiting addresses, taking photos and videos, and gathering online information about the journalists.
- One journalist targeted was Mojtaba Pourmohsen, with images of his home and workplace found on Sepahvand's phone.
- The men arrived in the UK as asylum seekers between 2016 and 2022; Sepahvand arrived hidden in a lorry, the others arrived by boat.
- The trial is ongoing, and all three deny the allegations.
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