Three Iranians in UK charged after counter-terrorism investigation | UK news

Three males have appeared in courtroom charged underneath the Nationwide Safety Act on suspicion of aiding the Iranian international intelligence service.

Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, of St John’s Wooden, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, of Kensal Rise, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, of Ealing, appeared earlier than Westminster magistrates courtroom on Saturday.

The three defendants spoke by way of a Farsi interpreter on the transient courtroom listening to to verify their names, dates of beginning and addresses.

The three males all arrived within the UK by irregular means, together with by small boats and a lorry, between 2016 and 2022.

No pleas have been entered by any of the lads, who have been all sporting gray sweatshirts, with Sepahvand attending in a wheelchair and Noori hobbling into the dock.

Scotland Yard stated a counter-terrorism investigation had led to 3 Iranian males being charged for partaking in conduct prone to help the international intelligence service between 14 August 2024 and 16 February 2025. They have been arrested on Saturday 3 Might.

Sepahvand was additionally charged with partaking in conduct; surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source analysis, aspiring to commit critical violence in opposition to an individual within the UK.

Manesh and Noori have additionally been charged with partaking in surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention of committing critical violence in opposition to an individual within the UK.

One other man, arrested on Friday 9 Might underneath the Nationwide Safety Act, was launched with out cost on Thursday.

They have been remanded into custody and can seem for a preliminary listening to on the Previous Bailey on 6 June.

The district choose Annabel Pilling advised the defendants: “I’m sending your case to the central criminal court.

“There will be a trial in due course before a judge and jury if you plead not guilty.

“The next stage will be a preliminary hearing before the specialist judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb on 6 June.”

The house secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated Iran should be “held to account for its actions”.

Cooper stated: “I want to thank the police and security services for their continuing work on this very serious investigation, and for their immense dedication to protecting our national security and the safety of our communities.

“The charges that have been laid against these three individuals must now take their course through the criminal justice system, and nothing must be done to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings.

“But we will also take separate action to address the very serious wider issues raised by this case. The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions.

“We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil.

“Protecting national security is the first duty of government. The police and security services have our continued support in their vital work, and we will take whatever action is needed to tackle the complex threats we face and keep our country and our people safe.”

Cmdr Dominic Murphy, from the Met’s counter-terrorism command, stated: “These are extremely serious charges under the National Security Act, which have come about following what has been a very complex and fast-moving investigation.

“Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock, and we have worked closely with colleagues in the CPS to reach this point. We have been in contact with the individuals directly affected, and we continue to provide them with support.

“Now that these men have been charged I would urge people not to speculate about this case, so that the criminal justice process can run its course.”

Frank Ferguson, the pinnacle of the Crown Prosecution Service’s particular crime and counter-terrorism division, stated: “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan police service’s counter terrorism command, we have authorised criminal charges against three Iranian nationals.”