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Three Iranian men are on trial in London for spying on journalists who work for Iran International, a station critical of the Iranian government. Prosecutors claim that between August 2024 and March 2025, the trio surveilled at least two journalists by visiting their addresses and taking photos and videos to prepare for an attack intended as retribution against dissidents abroad. The defendants deny charges under Britain's National Security Act, with the prosecution arguing these actions were part of Iran’s policy to silence critics both inside and outside its borders.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In London, three Iranian men—Mostafa Sepahvand (41), Farhad Javadi Manesh (46), and Shapoor Noori (57)—are on trial for spying on dissident journalists working for Iran International, a Persian-language television station critical of the Iranian government. Prosecutors claim that between August 2024 and March 2025, these individuals conducted surveillance to gather information about at least two targets with the intent to attack them as retribution for their criticism of the regime. The defendants are charged under Britain's National Security Act, which gives authorities new powers to counter threats from foreign states. During the trial at Woolwich Crown Court, prosecutors revealed that Sepahvand was allegedly intended to carry out "serious violence," using research and reconnaissance data gathered by his co-defendants. This case highlights growing tensions between Britain and Iran, as Tehran continues to target critics both domestically and internationally.
Written for “Iranians Spying Trial UK” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 2 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 59811: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-06
Three Iranians on trial in UK for spying on dissident journalists
asserted
Iranians → spy → journalists
LONDON, Oct 6 - Three Iranian men spied on British-based dissident journalists on behalf of Iran's foreign intelligence service in order to attack them "as retribution for their criticism of the Iranian regime", prosecutors told a London jury on Tuesday.
asserted
prosecutors → spy → Tuesday
The trio are accused of surveilling journalists working for Iran International, a Persian-language television station which is critical of Iran's government, between August 2024 and March 2025.
asserted
which → accuse → August
Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, have each denied two charges under Britain's National Security Act, brought in to give the authorities new powers to target threats from foreign states.
asserted
Sepahvand → deny → states
Their trial at Woolwich Crown Court began this week at time of growing tension between Britain and Iran, which prosecutors say has repeatedly targeted critics and dissidents both inside the Islamic Republic and abroad.
asserted
prosecutors → begin → Republic
"Eliminating hostile or critical voices ... has effectively become a staple policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran," prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors.
asserted
Jones → eliminate → jurors
He said the three defendants conducted research about at least two Iran International journalists, visiting addresses linked to them and taking photos and videos in preparation for an attack which Sepahvand was to carry out.
asserted
Sepahvand → say → which
"Their ultimate objective was that one, perhaps more than one, of these targets would be subjected to serious violence, no doubt as retribution for their criticism of the Iranian regime and to try to silence and deter others," Emlyn Jones said.
asserted
Jones → subject → others
He told the court the three defendants accepted going to places and taking photos and videos, but disputed why they had done so.
asserted
they → tell → photos
Emlyn Jones said Manesh and Noori's case was that they did not know they were doing so to assist Iranian intelligence, while Sepahvand accepted he knew but had been "bullied or threatened into doing what he did".
asserted
he → say → what
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