Three Iranians Accused in UK of Plot to Harm Dissident Journalists

Three Iranian nationals are on trial in London accused of operating as spies for their home country, allegedly conducting surveillance and reconnaissance to plot harm against journalists critical of the Iranian regime. The prosecution contends that the ultimate goal was to eliminate or silence these individuals.

The accused, identified as Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Noori, 57, allegedly utilized artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, to aid in their research. This information was then used to track targets, observing their routines, vehicles, and the layout of buildings they frequented.

"This information will help the planning where these targets may be susceptible to an attack. Such information is of obvious value to a foreign intelligence service seeking to monitor and target these individuals," prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told Woolwich Crown Court. The operation, reportedly spanning from August 2024 to March 2025, aimed to locate and target at least two journalists associated with the Persian-language news agency Iran International.

Sepahvand is accused of being the intended hitman tasked with carrying out "serious violence" as retribution for criticism directed at Tehran. Manesh and Noori reportedly admit to visiting locations to take photos and videos but claim they were unaware they were acting for Iranian intelligence services. Sepahvand acknowledges conducting surveillance for the Iranian regime but states he did so under duress, fearing repercussions for refusal. His defense also claims he deliberately performed poorly to thwart the intelligence service's objectives.

"It is the prosecution case that their ultimate objective was that one or perhaps more than one of their targets would be subjected to serious violence - no doubt as retribution for their criticism of the Iranian regime - and to try to silence and deter others who might dare to voice such criticism," Emlyn Jones stated. He characterized the actions as a form of spying aimed at gathering information for retribution against critics of the Iranian regime, whose rulers "do not and cannot, tolerate dissent."

The prosecutor further noted that Iran International is considered critical of the regime and thus a primary target. "Eliminating hostile, critical voices or dissident actors overseas has become effectively a staple policy of the Islamic Republic," he added. The accused deny assisting a foreign intelligence service. The trial is ongoing.