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Sunday, May 18, 2025
Outside the box.
Three Iranian Nationals Charged Under UK National Security Act
Charges stem from a counter-terrorism investigation involving allegations of assisting Iranian foreign intelligence.
Three Iranian men, Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, appeared in Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 3, following charges filed under the National Security Act.
Each of the defendants has been accused of engaging in conduct that allegedly supports the Iranian foreign intelligence service during a specified period from August 14, 2024, to February 16, 2025.
During the brief court session, the defendants communicated via a Farsi interpreter to confirm their identities and personal details.
They have all arrived in the UK through irregular methods, including smuggling via small boats and lorries, between 2016 and 2022. None of the men entered pleas at this time.
They were dressed in grey sweatshirts, and Sepahvand appeared in a wheelchair, while Noori hobbled into the dock.
Scotland Yard stated that the ongoing counter-terrorism investigation had led to these charges, specifically indicating that the activities in question included surveillance, reconnaissance, and open-source research intended to inflict serious harm on individuals within the UK. Sepahvand faces additional allegations of engaging in conduct actively promoting this violent intent.
Following their court appearance, the three men were remanded in custody and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on June 6. District Judge Annabel Pilling informed them that if they plead not guilty, a trial will be conducted before a judge and jury in due course.
A fourth individual, arrested under the National Security Act a few days earlier, has been released without charge.
The United Kingdom's Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, emphasized the importance of accountability regarding Iran’s actions and expressed gratitude towards the police and security services for their continued efforts in addressing national security concerns.
Cooper remarked that the circumstances surrounding this case necessitate additional measures to bolster the UK’s response to state threats.
Commander Dominic Murphy from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command acknowledged the severity of the charges arising from what he described as a complex investigation.
Emphasizing the need for a fair judicial process, Murphy advised against speculation regarding the case as it progresses through the legal system.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, confirmed that charges were authorized following a detailed examination of the evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command.
Each of the defendants has been accused of engaging in conduct that allegedly supports the Iranian foreign intelligence service during a specified period from August 14, 2024, to February 16, 2025.
During the brief court session, the defendants communicated via a Farsi interpreter to confirm their identities and personal details.
They have all arrived in the UK through irregular methods, including smuggling via small boats and lorries, between 2016 and 2022. None of the men entered pleas at this time.
They were dressed in grey sweatshirts, and Sepahvand appeared in a wheelchair, while Noori hobbled into the dock.
Scotland Yard stated that the ongoing counter-terrorism investigation had led to these charges, specifically indicating that the activities in question included surveillance, reconnaissance, and open-source research intended to inflict serious harm on individuals within the UK. Sepahvand faces additional allegations of engaging in conduct actively promoting this violent intent.
Following their court appearance, the three men were remanded in custody and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on June 6. District Judge Annabel Pilling informed them that if they plead not guilty, a trial will be conducted before a judge and jury in due course.
A fourth individual, arrested under the National Security Act a few days earlier, has been released without charge.
The United Kingdom's Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, emphasized the importance of accountability regarding Iran’s actions and expressed gratitude towards the police and security services for their continued efforts in addressing national security concerns.
Cooper remarked that the circumstances surrounding this case necessitate additional measures to bolster the UK’s response to state threats.
Commander Dominic Murphy from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command acknowledged the severity of the charges arising from what he described as a complex investigation.
Emphasizing the need for a fair judicial process, Murphy advised against speculation regarding the case as it progresses through the legal system.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, confirmed that charges were authorized following a detailed examination of the evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command.
