Three Iranian nationals, who arrived in the UK as illegal migrants, on Friday denied spying in Britain on behalf of Iran’s intelligence services. The three suspects—Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori—appeared at London’s Old Bailey court under the National Security Act.
Sepahvand was accused of carrying out surveillance and research in preparation for serious violence in the UK. Meanwhile, Manesh and Noori face similar charges of conducting surveillance with the intention that others would carry out such attacks.
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones said the allegations were serious and related to spying on journalists and organisations considered “hostile” by the Iranian regime.
The police said:
All three are charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between 14 August 2024 and 16 February 2025.
The three defendants, who appeared via videolink from Belmarsh prison, confirmed their identities, speaking through a Farsi interpreter before entering not guilty pleas in English.
A trial has been set for October 2026, with an interim hearing in March.
