Two Iranian nationals convicted of spying for Tehran in United Kingdom

Two Iranian nationals have been convicted of spying for Tehran in the United Kingdom, the Daily Mail, Sky News, and The Jewish Chronicle reported. The Daily Mail and The Jewish Chronicle stated that the men were found guilty of tracking down and targeting journalists opposed to the Iranian regime as well as a pro-Israel lawyer. [1][2][3]

According to the Daily Mail, the scheme involved a second-hand car salesman and an associate who were hired to track down and attack their targets. The trial exposed an operation where Iranian agents offered money and inducements to proxies in the United Kingdom, though the Daily Mail reported that the operatives never located their targets. [1]

The Daily Mail noted that this marks the third time in three years that individuals have been recruited by Iran to target journalists in the country. It is also the first such case involving Iranian asylum seekers. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, three Iranian nationals living in London previously went on trial at Woolwich Crown Court accused of spying for Iran and targeting Persian-language journalists. In that case, one defendant claimed he acted out of fear of retaliation, which prosecutors denied. [5]