Three Iranian nationals have appeared in court charged with spying offences on behalf of Iran’s foreign intelligence service.
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.
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 14 August 2024 and 16 February 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 6 June.
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.”
