Two Iranian men convicted in UK spying case tied to Tehran

Two Iranian men have been convicted in the United Kingdom of spying for Iran after a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court in south London. Prosecutors said the pair carried out surveillance on several people in London, including journalists working for a Persian-language broadcaster and a founder of a UK legal advocacy group. A third defendant in the case was acquitted on all charges.

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The men, identified as Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, were found guilty on Thursday of engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's intelligence service. Prosecutors said the operation was intended to help inflict violence on "subjects" in the UK. According to the case presented in court, the pair were promised rewards for sending intelligence back to Iran, and Sepahvand was prepared to go beyond surveillance and carry out a "violent attack" against at least one target.

The targets named in the case included journalists Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini, who work for Iran International, as well as Jonathan Turner, a founding member of UK Lawyers for Israel. Iran International is banned by the government in Tehran. London's Metropolitan Police said the case was the fourth in recent years involving direct threats to Iranian journalists in the UK, and said it was working to keep them safe.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said the threat from hostile states was increasing and that Iran continued to adapt its use of "proxies". The verdict adds to concern in Britain about state-linked activity directed at dissidents, journalists and other perceived opponents of the Iranian government. It also comes after the UK outlawed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in July under new powers aimed at countering state threats, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison for anyone convicted of supporting or assisting the organisation.

The case therefore sits at the intersection of national security, counter-espionage and the protection of people living in the UK who are seen as critical of Tehran. The court case also reflects a wider pattern of allegations involving Iranian-linked activity in Europe and the UK. Police said the defendants were accused of visiting addresses linked to their targets and taking photographs, indicating a level of planning beyond casual observation.

Officials have also linked Iran in recent months to a plot against a United States-run military airbase in England, underscoring the broader security concerns surrounding the case. What remains unclear from the court outcome is the full extent of any wider network, including who directed the operation and whether others were involved beyond the three men tried. Sentencing details were not included in the material provided, and it is not yet clear what penalties the convicted men will face.

The case is likely to remain under close watch because of its implications for UK security policy, the safety of Iranian journalists in Britain and the handling of alleged foreign intelligence activity on British soil.

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