Two men found guilty of spying for Iran over plan to target UK-based journalists

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.