International courts · November 12, 2026
London court convicts two men in Iranian surveillance case
Published November 12, 2026
On November 12, Woolwich Crown Court convicted Mostafa Sepahvand and Farhad Javadi Manesh of assisting a foreign intelligence service under section 3 of the UK National Security Act 2023. The Crown Prosecution Service said the men carried out surveillance of journalists working for an international broadcaster banned by Iran.
Sepahvand was also convicted of preparatory conduct under section 18, a charge involving intent to commit serious violence. Manesh was acquitted on the preparatory conduct count. A third defendant, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, was acquitted on all counts.
The Crown Prosecution Service says sentencing is scheduled for December 17 at the Central Criminal Court.