Three Iranian men stood trial in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, facing charges of espionage for Tehran, with prosecutors alleging they gathered intelligence for a potential violent attack against a London-based journalist.
The defendants visited locations linked to individuals, including two journalists working for the Farsi-language Iran International network, which Tehran designates as a terrorist organization.
Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Noori, 57, all pleaded not guilty and appeared in a London court with interpreters.
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Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones informed the jury that the three were accused of conduct assisting a foreign intelligence service, essentially spying on individuals of interest to the Iranian regime. The surveillance and reconnaissance occurred between August 2024 and February 2025, with Sepahvand reportedly designated to execute any attack.
The trial centers on actions taken “on behalf of the Iranian regime to target journalists and others considered hostile or merely critical” of it. Iran International, based in London, has been critical of the government and supportive of opposition groups, according to the prosecution.
Another target was lawyer Jonathan Turner, founder of UK Lawyers for Israel. While the accused do not deny visiting the addresses and taking photos and videos, Sepahvand claimed he acted under coercion and fear.
Prosecutors dismissed this as “bogus,” alleging he sought payment and attempted to have a theft conviction in Iran “fixed” in exchange for his cooperation. Manesh and Noori stated they were unaware their actions would assist Iranian intelligence services, the prosecution added.
Emlyn Jones told the jury their goal was to “locate and target at least two journalists associated with Iran International and others.”
