Three deny charges over alleged plot against Iran International journalists

Three men are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court over allegations that they gathered information on journalists for Iranian intelligence, with prosecutors saying at least one journalist was targeted for serious violence. Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori each deny two charges under the National Security Act. [1] [3]

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones said at least two journalists linked to the London-based Persian-language broadcaster Iran International were under surveillance. Sky News identified them as Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini. Jones said violence against at least one journalist was intended as retribution and to deter other critics. [1] [4]

Sky reported that a message shown to jurors told Sepahvand: “You are expected to hit or kill the journalist.” It also reported a later voice note attributed to him: “They pay the £150,000, and I'll finish them off.” The £150,000 was described as a sum he wanted, not a payment shown to have been made. [4]

The Crown Prosecution Service’s published charges accuse all three of conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service, alleging that they knew or ought reasonably to have known it would materially assist that service. A separate charge alleges that Sepahvand intended to commit serious violence himself; the charges against Manesh and Noori allege they intended that others would commit it. All three deny the charges. [2] [3]