Two Iranians convicted in UK for spying on dissident journalists for IRGC
A London court found two men guilty of surveilling critical Persian-language reporters on behalf of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, marking the first convictions under the 2023 National Security Act.
By Amir Navarro ·
Two Iranian nationals were found guilty in a London court on Thursday of conducting espionage operations against dissident journalists in Britain. The convictions relate to surveillance activities carried out on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. British police officials stated that the case demonstrates a noticeable rise in Iranian intelligence activity within the country.
The trial took place at Woolwich Crown Court. Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, was convicted of two separate offenses. Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, was found guilty of one offense. Both men were prosecuted under the provisions of Britain's National Security Act, a piece of legislation introduced in 2023 to address threats posed by foreign states.
Police authorities highlighted the significance of these outcomes, noting that this is the first time Iranian citizens have been convicted under the new National Security Act. The law was specifically designed to counter threats from foreign powers, including Iran, which UK authorities claim have increased significantly in recent years.
Vicki Evans, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, explained that Sepahvand received instructions from the IRGC or intermediaries working for Iranian intelligence. She emphasized that the verdict underscores the persistent and growing threat Iran poses to the United Kingdom.
Iranian officials have consistently denied involvement in such spying operations. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed that he was disturbed by the initial arrests of Sepahvand and his associates in May 2025. Tehran has maintained a stance of denial regarding its intelligence activities in Britain.
Prosecutors detailed the scope of the surveillance during the trial, which began last month. They stated that the defendants monitored journalists employed by Iran International, a Persian-language television station that is critical of the Iranian government. The period of surveillance spanned from August 2024 to March 2025.
Sepahvand was found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service. He also faced a second charge concerning a plan to attack one or more of the targeted journalists, of which he was also convicted. Manesh was convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service but was acquitted of the separate charge related to preparing for an attack.
A third defendant, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was acquitted of both charges brought against him. The two men who were found guilty are scheduled to be sentenced next month. Their convictions add to a series of cases where British authorities have accused Tehran of using criminal networks and proxies for plots and attempted assassinations in the UK.
In a related development, Iran has recently been linked to a plot targeting a US-run military airbase in England. This latest espionage case continues a pattern of accusations by British authorities regarding Iranian activities, which Tehran has repeatedly refuted.
