Two Iranian men found guilty of plotting to eliminate UK-based journalists

A jury has found two Iranian men guilty of assisting Tehran’s intelligence services in a plot to target dissidents living in the United Kingdom. Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, were convicted following an investigation into what authorities describe as a growing tactic of using hired proxies to conduct surveillance on foreign soil. These two Iranian men were recruited via social media to monitor individuals, including journalists and a legal advocate, as part of a scheme to inflict violence.

Between August 2024 and March last year, the defendants performed reconnaissance on several high-profile targets. These included Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini, both journalists for the London-based Persian broadcaster Iran International, as well as Jonathan Turner, a founder of UK Lawyers for Israel. The court heard that the defendants visited addresses linked to their targets, capturing photographs and video footage while using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to gather personal information.

Two Iranian men were convicted of assisting Tehran’s intelligence services by conducting surveillance on UK targets.

The scope of the surveillance

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told Woolwich crown court that the Iranian regime views the elimination of critical voices abroad as a staple policy. Sepahvand, who had entered the UK illegally in the back of a lorry, reportedly communicated with an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander via WhatsApp. He allegedly sought a payment of £150,000 to "finish off" his targets. The court heard that Sepahvand used AI to locate the home address of Pourmohsen, while the team also monitored the satirist Kambiz Hosseini. The threats against Hosseini were severe enough that he was forced to abandon his career and leave his home after receiving a message suggesting his car would be blown up.

While Sepahvand was convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparatory conduct, Manesh was found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service but cleared of the preparatory charge. A third man, Shapoor Noori, was acquitted of all charges. The defendants, who had claimed asylum in the UK, denied the allegations, with Manesh claiming he photographed the Iran International building simply because it was beautiful.

Why it matters

The case highlights a concerning trend of hostile states utilizing proxy networks to conduct surveillance and intimidation against dissidents in foreign countries. This development poses significant security challenges for journalists and activists operating in exile, demonstrating that international borders offer little protection against state-sponsored harassment.