Two Iranian men convicted in London for spying on critics

Two Iranian men have been convicted in London of spying on journalists and critics of the Iranian government, in what prosecutors describe as the first convictions under the UK National Security Act 2023. The verdict was delivered on Thursday at Woolwich Crown Court. Tehran denies any involvement.

The targets of the surveillance included journalists working for Iran International, a London-based Persian-language broadcaster that has reported critically on the Iranian government, as well as a figure associated with UK Lawyers for Israel. The monitoring ran from August 2024 to March 2025, according to the case details presented in court.

Sepahvand was convicted of preparatory conduct amounting to violence. Manesh was acquitted of that charge. A third defendant was cleared of all charges. The verdicts mark a test of the 2023 legislation, which was introduced to address state-directed threats on British soil and has been used here for the first time.

The London case is one of several recent developments that have drawn attention to alleged Iranian activity in Western countries. In the United States, federal prosecutors have charged three alleged operatives linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah. According to the charges, the group is accused of plotting across Europe and the United States, with nearly 20 attacks or attempted attacks. The targets allegedly included Jewish communities and RAF Fairford, the British air base used by American forces. One defendant is alleged to have coordinated operations using coded messages sent from a jail in New York. Prosecutors also say a plan was made against a synagogue in Manhattan.

In France, authorities have blamed IRGC-linked hackers for a cyberattack on food refrigeration systems. About 700 retail sites were hit on October 11 and 12, with defrost settings altered, leading to spoiled food and at least 15 fires, officials reported. Affected chains include Carrefour, Leclerc and Intermarché. France plans to seek European sanctions in response. Iran's Foreign Ministry has rejected the accusations.

Further signals have come from the Gulf. A United Arab Emirates official said hundreds of suspected members of Iranian sleeper cells had been arrested. Separately, journalist Lisa Daftari said she had been followed, hacked and warned by the FBI, describing the pressure she has faced over her reporting.

The Group of Seven foreign ministers expressed grave concern over Iranian plots, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed Iran for regional instability, saying economic pressure on Tehran would continue. Despite the similarities across these cases, there is no evidence yet that they form a single coordinated operation. Each case is being pursued separately by the relevant authorities.

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Derek Weston

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Derek Weston covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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