Updated 10m ago · Crime
Two Iranians Convicted of Spying on UK Journalists
Two Iranian men were found guilty of conduct likely to assist Iran's intelligence service. The verdicts came after a trial at Woolwich Crown Court.
- Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, were convicted.
- Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was cleared of the same charge.
- Targets included Iran International journalists Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini.
- Jonathan Turner, a UK Lawyers for Israel founder member, was also targeted.
Why it matters: The surveillance ran from August 2024 to March of the following year. Prosecutors said its aim was violence against people in the UK.
- Prosecutors said Sepahvand intended to carry out the attack himself.
- The defendants photographed addresses and used ChatGPT to research targets.
How 6 sources split on this story
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6 sources · 6 articles · 66% Center coverage
Center4 sources
BBC News1hTwo men found guilty of spying for Iran over plan to target journalistsIran International1hTwo men convicted in London of helping Iran target Iran International journalistsJerusalem Post0mTwo Iranians found guilty of spying on UK-based journalists for IranSky News2hTwo Iranians convicted of spying for their country after entering Britain illegally
Left1 source
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right frames the case as an Iranian state-linked plot against a dissident broadcaster on British soil.
What’s next: The coverage does not report a sentencing date or the potential penalties.
- What sentences will Sepahvand and Manesh receive?
- Did the court hear evidence of direct contact with Iranian intelligence?
- Why was Noori cleared of the same charge?
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