UK charges three Iranians in counter terrorism probe

British police have charged three Iranian men with offences under the National Security Act after a major counter-terrorism investigation.

British counter-terrorism police arrested eight men including seven Iranians earlier this month in two separate operations in what the British interior minister called some of the biggest investigations of their kind in recent years.

Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024, and February 16, 2025, the police said in a statement on Saturday.

The foreign state to which the charges relate is Iran, they added.

Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, said: "These are extremely serious charges under the National Security Act, which have come about following what has been a very complex and fast-moving investigation.

"Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock and we have worked closely with colleagues in the CPS to reach this point. We have been in contact with the individuals directly affected and we continue to provide them with support.

"Now that these men have been charged I would urge people not to speculate about this case, so that the criminal justice process can run its course."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was "disturbed" to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by British authorities.

The British government has placed Iran on the highest tier of its foreign influence register, requiring Tehran to register everything it does to exert political influence in the UK.

with PA