Three Iranian nationals charged in UK under National Security Act

British counter-terrorism police have charged three Iranian nationals with offences under the National Security Act, including allegations of assisting a foreign intelligence service and conducting surveillance in preparation for acts of serious violence.

The men — Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55 — were arrested in London on May 3 and charged on Friday, police said in a statement on Saturday. They are accused of acting on behalf of Iran.

All three were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025, in breach of Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.

Sepahvand faces an additional charge of conducting surveillance, reconnaissance, and research with the intention of committing serious violence in the UK, contrary to Section 18(1)(a) of the Act. Javadi Manesh and Noori are also charged with similar conduct intended to enable others to commit serious violence.

“These are extremely serious charges under the National Security Act,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. “Detectives have been working around the clock and we have worked closely with colleagues in the CPS to reach this point.”

The three men have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

A fourth man, aged 31, was also arrested as part of the investigation but was released without charge on May 15.

The arrests follow two separate counter-terrorism operations carried out earlier this month, in which seven Iranian nationals were detained. While the authorities have not confirmed details of the alleged target, media reports linked the case to the Israeli embassy in London. Police have not confirmed that claim.

In October, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said UK authorities had disrupted at least 20 “potentially deadly” plots linked to Tehran since early 2022. “Iranian state actors make extensive use of criminals as proxies—from international drug traffickers to low-level crooks,” McCallum said.

Iran’s government has denied any involvement in the alleged plots. Earlier in the month, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran “categorically rejects” claims of targeting foreign sites and said it had not been informed of any allegations through official diplomatic channels.

“Iran stands ready to engage to shed light on what has truly transpired,” Araghchi wrote on X. “We reiterate that UK authorities should afford our citizens due process.”