London, UK | May 17, 2025 — Three Iranian men have been formally charged under the UK’s National Security Act over allegations of assisting Iran’s intelligence services, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The suspects — Mostafa Sepahvand (39) of St John’s Wood, Farhad Javadi Manesh (44) of Kensal Rise, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori (55) of Ealing — were arrested on 3 May 2025 following a counter-terrorism operation.
According to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, the men engaged in surveillance, reconnaissance, and open-source research between August 2024 and February 2025 with the intent of enabling serious violence in the UK.
- Mr Sepahvand faces an additional charge of conducting independent reconnaissance with the intent to facilitate violence.
- Mr Manesh and Mr Noori are accused of aiding others in similar surveillance efforts.
All three have been remanded in custody and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
A fourth man, aged 31, was arrested later but has since been released without charge.
National Security Concerns and Investigation
The arrests were made under Section 27 of the National Security Act, which permits warrantless arrests for suspected foreign power threats.
Commander Dominic Murphy described the charges as “extremely serious” and emphasized the complexity and urgency of the investigation, stating that officers had been working “around the clock.”
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) warned against any public commentary or speculation that might prejudice legal proceedings.
Wider Context and Related Cases
These arrests coincided with a separate operation involving five other Iranian men detained in different UK cities including Swindon, London, Stockport, Rochdale, and Manchester. Police have clarified that the two investigations are not linked.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called both counter-terrorism operations “some of the most significant in recent years,” underscoring the growing concern over foreign state threats and espionage within the UK.
This development comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Western nations, particularly over allegations that Iran has been using organized criminal gangs to carry out covert operations abroad, including kidnappings and assassinations, as previously reported
