[REVISION HISTORY]

UK investigations into Iranian espionage

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What changed

2026-10-06 12:57 UTC → 2026-10-06 18:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Authorities in the United Kingdom have conducted investigations and legal proceedings regarding alleged Iranian espionage activities within London. In September 2026, London counter-terrorism officers arrested two individuals, a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man, on suspicion of ‘assisting a foreign intelligence service’ under the National Security Act 2023. Police indicated that while these arrests reflect a significant increase in national security work related to foreign state threats, there was no perceived imminent threat to the general public. By October 2026, the focus shifted to a trial at Woolwich Crown Court involving three Iranian men—Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Manesh, and Shapoor Noori. Prosecutors allege the defendants conducted surveillance and reconnaissance between August 2024 and early 2025 to target journalists at the Farsi-language news network Iran International. The prosecution claims the surveillance was intended to facilitate violent attacks against journalists as retribution for their criticism of the Iranian government. ~~The~~ During the trial, it was alleged that Mostafa Sepahvand was specifically earmarked to carry out a potential attack. While the defendants ~~have pleaded~~ did not ~~guilty, with claims ranging from lack~~ deny visiting specific addresses or capturing photos and videos, they disputed the intent behind their actions. Sepahvand claimed he acted out of ~~awareness regarding~~ ‘coercion and fear’, while Manesh and Noori stated they were unaware they were assisting Iranian intelligence ~~involvement to being coerced by fear.~~ services.

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