Latest news with #Sepahvand
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iranian ambassador summoned to Foreign Office after three men charged under National Security Act
The UK government has summoned Iran's ambassador in response to three Iranian nationals being charged under the National Security Act The three men were charged with spying offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court . Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, are alleged to have targeted journalists working for Iran International, an independent media organisation based in London. Iran's ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, has now been summoned to the Foreign Office, the government said on Monday. "The UK government is clear that protecting national security remains our top priority and Iran must be held accountable for its actions," a statement read. "The summons follows this weekend's announcement which stated that three Iranian nationals had been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service." Sepahvand, Manesh and Noori are accused of "engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service" between August 2024 and February 2025, following an investigation by counter-terror police. They are alleged to have arrived in the UK by "irregular means", including small boats and a lorry, before claiming asylum. Sepahvand is also charged with engaging in surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research, intending to commit acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK. Manesh and Noori are further charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention that acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK, would be committed by others. 'Extremely serious' Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, described the charges as "extremely serious". "Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock and we have worked closely with colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service to reach this point," he said on the weekend. "Now that these men have been charged, I would urge people not to speculate about this case, so that the criminal justice process can run its course." Iran's state-run news agency IRNA reported that Tehran said the detention was a violation of international law and politically motivated. Read more from Sky News: The trio were arrested on 3 May, the same day in a separate unrelated probe into an alleged plot reportedly targeting the Israeli embassy. Four of those five were released from custody on Saturday, while the fifth was released on bail with conditions. Sepahvand, Manesh and Noori are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.
NZ Herald
18-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Iranians accused of spying in UK were asylum seekers
Sepahvand, from St John's Wood, was charged with 'surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research' with the intention of 'committing serious violence against a person in the UK'. Manesh, from Kensal Rise, and Noori, from Ealing, were both charged with the same offence but with the intention that violence 'would be committed by others'. Both Sepahvand and Noori spoke through a Farsi interpreter at the brief court hearing to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said that the Government would strengthen national security powers in the wake of the charges, saying that the case raised 'very serious wider issues'. Strengthened powers Cooper said: 'The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions. 'We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil. 'As part of that process, we will publish next week the results of Jonathan Hall, KC's review into the application of our counter-terrorism framework to modern-day state threats.' She thanked the police and security services for their dedication to 'protecting our national security'. She added: 'The charges that have been laid against these three individuals must now take their course through the criminal justice system and nothing must be done to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings.' District Judge Annabel Pilling was told that police attended the home addresses of the three on May 3. The CPS prosecutor, who did not give his name on security grounds, told the court that Sepahvand first arrived in the UK in 2016 concealed in a lorry. He sought asylum on the grounds that he feared for his safety if he returned to Iran. Manesh arrived in the UK by boat in December 2019 and applied for refugee status on religious grounds. Noori had his first recorded contact with the authorities in the UK in September 2022, at which point he applied for asylum. All three were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey next month. Both Sepahvand and Noori's defence counsels indicated their client would be denying the charges. Judge Pilling told the defendants: 'There will be a trial in due course before a judge and jury if you plead not guilty. The next stage will be a preliminary hearing before the specialist judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb on June 6.' Dominic Murphy, the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism commander, described the charges against the three as 'extremely serious'. He added: 'Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock and we have worked closely with colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service to reach this point. 'Now that these men have been charged I would urge people not to speculate about this case, so that the criminal justice process can run its course.' On May 9, a fourth man, aged 31, was also arrested as part of the investigation but he was released without charge on Thursday. Separate investigation Scotland Yard said today that four other Iranians arrested in a separate counter-terrorism policing investigation had been released from custody. The men had been arrested on May 3 at addresses in London, Swindon and Greater Manchester on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. A fifth man, also an Iranian national, was previously released on bail to a later date in May. Officers continue to carry out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London, Swindon and High Wycombe areas. Murphy said: 'We made these arrests due to concerns about a suspected plot to target a specific premises. Since those arrests, detectives have been working to assess all the evidence we've gathered and to question the men. 'They are now being released from custody but our investigation remains active and is ongoing. 'We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support. This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public.' Murphy added: 'I would like to thank the public for their support and understanding – particularly in the areas and communities across the UK who have felt the direct impact of our activity. I'd like to ask people to remain vigilant and contact us if anything doesn't look or feel right. Information from the public is crucial to our work.'
UPI
17-05-2025
- UPI
Iranian asylum seekers charged with spying, targeting U.K. journalists
Three Iranian asylum-seekers are charged with violations of the United Kingdom's National Security Act for targeting journalists with Iran International, which is based in London. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo May 17 (UPI) -- Three Iranian men were charged with National Security Act violations for targeting U.K.-based journalists with "serious violence" during a Saturday court appearance. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, of London were charged in the Westminster Magistrates Court in London, the BBC reported. Sepahvand also is charged with "surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research" while planning to commit "serious violence against a person in the U.K." The trio are London residents who have sought asylum and were arrested on May 3 for "engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service" from Aug. 14 to Feb. 16, CNN reported. Iran's foreign intelligence service is the one they are accused of assisting by allegedly surveilling and targeting journalists for Iran International, which is an independent media outlet based in London. The three are Iranian citizens and entered the United Kingdom between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand hid inside a lorry when he arrived in 2016, while the other two arrived in small boats. Each was granted temporary asylum shortly after arriving in the United Kingdom. None of the three entered pleas during Saturday's court hearing, and the three men have another court hearing scheduled on June 6 at the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court in London.
The Advertiser
17-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Three Iranian men charged in UK after spying probe
Three alleged Iranian spies have faced charges in a London court that they conducted surveillance on and plotted violence against United Kingdom-based journalists for an Iranian news outlet. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025. Sepahvand was also charged with engaging in "surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research," intending to commit serious violence against a person in the UK. The others are charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention serious violence would be committed by others. Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel based in London that is critical of the theocratic government in Iran, reported that the defendants were trying to locate and target its journalists. The Iranian government has called the news outlet a terrorist organisation. All three men were living in London after entering the UK through unauthorised means between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, whose application for bail was denied, arrived in the UK in 2016 concealed in a lorry, the court heard, while the other two men arrived by irregular means, the government said, including via small boats across the Channel. They have been in custody since their arrests on May 3. A fourth man arrested in the same investigation was released without charge. The three did not enter pleas during a brief hearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court. They confirmed their identities through a Farsi interpreter. They were held in custody awaiting a hearing June 6 at the Central Criminal Court. On the day the men were arrested two weeks ago, police took four other Iranian citizens into custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in a separate investigation. They were released from custody on Saturday although counter-terror police said that investigation continues. "We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support," Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. "This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government plans to publish a review next week of how to apply the UK's counterterrorism approach to state threats. "Iran must be held to account for its actions," Cooper said. "We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was "disturbed" to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by UK authorities. He said Iran was ready to assist in investigations if "credible allegations of misconduct are established" while another foreign ministry official rejected any accusations against Iranian authorities as "baseless". with Reuters Three alleged Iranian spies have faced charges in a London court that they conducted surveillance on and plotted violence against United Kingdom-based journalists for an Iranian news outlet. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025. Sepahvand was also charged with engaging in "surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research," intending to commit serious violence against a person in the UK. The others are charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention serious violence would be committed by others. Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel based in London that is critical of the theocratic government in Iran, reported that the defendants were trying to locate and target its journalists. The Iranian government has called the news outlet a terrorist organisation. All three men were living in London after entering the UK through unauthorised means between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, whose application for bail was denied, arrived in the UK in 2016 concealed in a lorry, the court heard, while the other two men arrived by irregular means, the government said, including via small boats across the Channel. They have been in custody since their arrests on May 3. A fourth man arrested in the same investigation was released without charge. The three did not enter pleas during a brief hearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court. They confirmed their identities through a Farsi interpreter. They were held in custody awaiting a hearing June 6 at the Central Criminal Court. On the day the men were arrested two weeks ago, police took four other Iranian citizens into custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in a separate investigation. They were released from custody on Saturday although counter-terror police said that investigation continues. "We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support," Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. "This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government plans to publish a review next week of how to apply the UK's counterterrorism approach to state threats. "Iran must be held to account for its actions," Cooper said. "We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was "disturbed" to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by UK authorities. He said Iran was ready to assist in investigations if "credible allegations of misconduct are established" while another foreign ministry official rejected any accusations against Iranian authorities as "baseless". with Reuters Three alleged Iranian spies have faced charges in a London court that they conducted surveillance on and plotted violence against United Kingdom-based journalists for an Iranian news outlet. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025. Sepahvand was also charged with engaging in "surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research," intending to commit serious violence against a person in the UK. The others are charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention serious violence would be committed by others. Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel based in London that is critical of the theocratic government in Iran, reported that the defendants were trying to locate and target its journalists. The Iranian government has called the news outlet a terrorist organisation. All three men were living in London after entering the UK through unauthorised means between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, whose application for bail was denied, arrived in the UK in 2016 concealed in a lorry, the court heard, while the other two men arrived by irregular means, the government said, including via small boats across the Channel. They have been in custody since their arrests on May 3. A fourth man arrested in the same investigation was released without charge. The three did not enter pleas during a brief hearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court. They confirmed their identities through a Farsi interpreter. They were held in custody awaiting a hearing June 6 at the Central Criminal Court. On the day the men were arrested two weeks ago, police took four other Iranian citizens into custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in a separate investigation. They were released from custody on Saturday although counter-terror police said that investigation continues. "We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support," Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. "This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government plans to publish a review next week of how to apply the UK's counterterrorism approach to state threats. "Iran must be held to account for its actions," Cooper said. "We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was "disturbed" to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by UK authorities. He said Iran was ready to assist in investigations if "credible allegations of misconduct are established" while another foreign ministry official rejected any accusations against Iranian authorities as "baseless". with Reuters Three alleged Iranian spies have faced charges in a London court that they conducted surveillance on and plotted violence against United Kingdom-based journalists for an Iranian news outlet. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025. Sepahvand was also charged with engaging in "surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research," intending to commit serious violence against a person in the UK. The others are charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention serious violence would be committed by others. Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel based in London that is critical of the theocratic government in Iran, reported that the defendants were trying to locate and target its journalists. The Iranian government has called the news outlet a terrorist organisation. All three men were living in London after entering the UK through unauthorised means between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, whose application for bail was denied, arrived in the UK in 2016 concealed in a lorry, the court heard, while the other two men arrived by irregular means, the government said, including via small boats across the Channel. They have been in custody since their arrests on May 3. A fourth man arrested in the same investigation was released without charge. The three did not enter pleas during a brief hearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court. They confirmed their identities through a Farsi interpreter. They were held in custody awaiting a hearing June 6 at the Central Criminal Court. On the day the men were arrested two weeks ago, police took four other Iranian citizens into custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in a separate investigation. They were released from custody on Saturday although counter-terror police said that investigation continues. "We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support," Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. "This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government plans to publish a review next week of how to apply the UK's counterterrorism approach to state threats. "Iran must be held to account for its actions," Cooper said. "We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was "disturbed" to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by UK authorities. He said Iran was ready to assist in investigations if "credible allegations of misconduct are established" while another foreign ministry official rejected any accusations against Iranian authorities as "baseless". with Reuters
North Wales Chronicle
17-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Three Iranian nationals appear in court charged with spying offences
Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with offences under the National Security Act. The three men all arrived in the UK by irregular means, including by small boats and a lorry, between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand, of St John's Wood, Manesh, of Kensal Rise, and Noori, of Ealing, spoke through a Farsi interpreter at the brief court hearing to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. No pleas were entered by the trio who were all wearing grey sweatshirts, with Sepahvand attending in a wheelchair and Noori hobbling into the dock. They are all charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist the Iranian foreign intelligence service between August 14 2024 and February 16 2025. Sepahvand is also charged with engaging in surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research, intending to commit acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK. Manesh and Noori are further charged with engaging in surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention that acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK, would be committed by others. The trio were remanded into custody and will next appear for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on June 6. District Judge Annabel Pilling told the defendants: 'I'm sending your case to the Central Criminal Court. 'There will be a trial in due course before a judge and jury if you plead not guilty. 'The next stage will be a preliminary hearing before the specialist judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb on June 6.' The three men were arrested on May 3, and five Iranian nationals were also arrested on that day in connection with an entirely separate investigation, with four of them remaining in custody after warrants of further detention were secured. The four – a 29-year-old man in the Swindon area; a 46-year-old man in west London; a 29-year-old man in the Stockport area; and a 40-year-old man in the Rochdale area – were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section five of the Terrorism Act 2006. A fifth, a 24-year-old man in the Manchester area, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act before being bailed with conditions to an unspecified date in May. The Government will strengthen national security powers after the three men were charged, the Home Secretary said. Yvette Cooper said: 'I want to thank the police and security services for their continuing work on this very serious investigation, and for their immense dedication to protecting our national security and the safety of our communities. 'The charges that have been laid against these three individuals must now take their course through the criminal justice system and nothing must be done to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings. 'But we will also take separate action to address the very serious wider issues raised by this case. 'The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions. 'We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil. 'As part of that process we will publish next week the results of Jonathan Hall KC's review into the application of our counter-terrorism framework to modern-day state threats.'
