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British authorities have charged three Iranian nationals for helping to “help a foreign intelligence service”, marking a new stage in a Investigation into counter-intelligence targeting Iranian activities in the United Kingdom.
Metropolitan police announced the accusations under the 2023 national security law against Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, all residents of London who were initially arrested on May 3.
The activities of the trio in support of Iran took place between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025, according to the MET.
Sepahvand faces additional accusations linked to surveillance and recognition activities with the intention of committing serious violence in the United Kingdom. Manne and Noori are accused of having facilitated such violence by their actions.
The arrests were part of an effort to combat the broader terrorism in which eight Iranian nationals were held in two distinct operations on May 3.
While three have been officially charged, the other five people are still the subject of an investigation, with a conditional deposit.
The National Kingdom’s National Security Act of the United Kingdom 2023 grants the police forces improved powers to combat threats posed by foreign states. Article 27 of the Act allows the arrest of individuals suspected of involvement in threat activities of foreign power without a mandate.
Commander Dominic Murphy of the MET counter-terrorism command said: “These are extremely serious accusations under the National Security Act, which was on what was a very complex and rapid investigation.”
The Iranian government did not immediately comment on the arrests.
