The two men conducted extensive hostile reconnaissance against two journalists employed by the London-based broadcaster Iran International, alongside UK Lawyers for Israel founding member Jonathan Turner. Mostafa Sepahvand was found to have personally conducted surveillance with the intention of executing an attack, while Farhad Javadi Manesh provided support for the operational planning. During their surveillance, the pair took photographs, recorded video footage of target properties, and gathered intelligence using digital tools such as ChatGPT. A third defendant, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, was acquitted of the espionage charge.
Key points
The prosecution established that Mostafa Sepahvand actively intended to execute a violent…: The prosecution established that Mostafa Sepahvand actively intended to execute a violent physical assault against at least one identified target in the UK.
Farhad Javadi Manesh assisted with the logistical planning of the violent operations dire…: Farhad Javadi Manesh assisted with the logistical planning of the violent operations directed by Iranian intelligence against British residents.
A third man standing trial alongside the conspirators, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, was…: A third man standing trial alongside the conspirators, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, was cleared of the espionage charge by the court.
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Two men found guilty of spying for Iran over plan to target journalists
- Published
Two Iranian men have been found guilty of spying for Iran over a plan to target UK-based journalists with "serious violence".
Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, were convicted of engaging in conduct likely to assist Iran's intelligence service, at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday.
Sepahvand conducted surveillance and reconnaissance in preparation for inflicting violence on several "subjects" in the UK, including two journalists for the London-based Persian broadcaster Iran international and a founding member of UK Lawyers for Israel, Jonathan Turner, while Manesh assisted in planning.
A third man, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was cleared of the same charge.
The defendants visited addresses linked to their targets, took photos and videos and used platforms such as ChatGPT to research them online.
The prosecution said Sepahvand intended to physically carry out a "violent attack" against at least one of the targets, while Manesh assisted in planning.
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