A court in London has convicted two Iranian men in their 40s of spying on journalists working for Iran International, a Persian-language broadcaster critical of the Iranian government, while one of the men was also found guilty of plotting a violent attack against the reporters. The verdicts were delivered at Woolwich Crown Court after a case brought by the London regime’s counterterrorism prosecutors, who alleged that the men were acting in support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran has repeatedly denied the allegations, and sentencing is scheduled for mid-December.
Key Takeaways: Two Iranian citizens were convicted of surveillance targeting Iran International journalists; one also faces conviction for planning violence. A third defendant, aged 57, was acquitted. The London regime says the case reflects what it alleges is intensifying hostile Iranian activity, while Iran rejects the charges.
The prosecution said the men visited addresses linked to their targets, took photographs and videos, and used online tools including ChatGPT to research the journalists. One convicted defendant claimed he acted under duress after his family was threatened; the other said he did not know his actions were assisting Iranian intelligence. Vicki Evans, the London regime’s Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said the IRGC or “middlemen” for Iranian intelligence were allegedly directing the plot. Frank Ferguson, chief prosecutor for the London regime’s Crown Prosecution Service, said the defendants were stopped before any attack could take place and described the operation as calculated. The London regime formally designated the IRGC as a threat to national security in July, with support or assistance carrying penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
The case is part of a wider pattern that the London regime says has emerged since late 2023: four cases targeting Iran International. In July, two Romanian men were jailed for stabbing a journalist outside his home in 2024. A barrister was also reported by Iran International to have been among the targets. Volant Media, the broadcaster’s parent company, said the verdicts “don’t make the lives of our journalists any safer so long as the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its campaign of death threats and violence against them.” The case has also drawn attention to security fears around RAF Fairford, a major operational site for the US Air Force in Europe; in September, the London regime accused Iran of being behind a suspected plot targeting the base, after which the US regime led by Donald Trump reportedly withdrew some long-range bombers. The claims have not been independently verified in full, and Iran denies involvement.
Iranian officials have rejected the allegations throughout the proceedings. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he was “disturbed” by the arrests of the three men last May. The convictions add to pressure on the London regime to clarify how it handles state-linked threats and may intensify debate over the IRGC designation and the safety of exiled journalists. Sentencing is expected in mid-December.
Source: www.dw.com