In brief
Three Iranian individuals have been charged in London for allegedly assisting Iran's intelligence services in targeting British residents.
The Metropolitan Police have arrested and charged Mostafa Sepahvand (39), Farhad Javadi Manesh (44), and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori (55) under Britain's National Security Act. They are accused of aiding a foreign intelligence service by conducting reconnaissance and surveillance between August 14, 2024, and February 16, 2025, aimed at committing serious violence against an unidentified victim.The men were arrested on May 3 and have a history of illegally entering the UK, with two of them being among individuals who crossed the English Channel on small boats from France. This development follows increasing concerns regarding threats posed by Iranian operatives toward residents and journalists, especially those working for Iran International, a Persian-language broadcaster in London that has criticized the Iranian regime.UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the government's commitment to tackling these serious threats, affirming that Iran must be held accountable. She highlighted that the charges against the defendants will proceed through the justice system.The intensity of the issue is underscored by MI5's head Ken McCallum's warnings about the rising risk of Iranian-backed plots that have emerged since early 2022, marking Iran as a significant concern for Britain's counterterrorism efforts.
