Two men convicted over surveillance of Iran International journalists

A jury at Woolwich Crown Court found Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, guilty of conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.

Sepahvand was also convicted of carrying out surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention of committing serious violence against a person in Britain. Javadi Manesh was acquitted of a separate charge alleging that he conducted surveillance intending to facilitate serious violence by others.

A third defendant, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was acquitted of all charges.

The targets included Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini, journalists at the Persian-language broadcaster Iran International, and Jonathan Turner, a founding member of UK Lawyers for Israel. Iran International is critical of the government in Tehran.

Prosecutors said the surveillance took place between August 2024 and early 2025. They told the court that the defendants visited addresses, photographed buildings and vehicles, and recorded video to help Iran’s Revolutionary Guards identify potential targets.

Iran International reported that Sepahvand acknowledged conducting surveillance but said he had acted under threats against himself and his family and had tried to frustrate the operation. Javadi Manesh denied knowing that his activities were helping Iranian intelligence.

Senior counter-terrorism officer Vicki Evans said Sepahvand was directed by the Revolutionary Guards or intermediaries for Iranian intelligence. Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in spying or similar activities.

Sepahvand and Javadi Manesh are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 17 December.