Two Iranian men convicted in London of helping Iran surveil UK-based journalists
Photo: The GuardianTwo Iranian men, Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Thursday of assisting Iranian intelligence by surveilling journalists in the UK. Between August 2024 and March last year they visited addresses linked to their targets, took photos and videos and used ChatGPT for research. Targets included Iran International journalists Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini, and Jonathan Turner of UK Lawyers for Israel. One man was also convicted of plotting a violent attack; the other was convicted of spying only. One said he acted under duress after his family was threatened; the other said he did not know he was aiding Iranian intelligence. A third defendant, 57, was acquitted of all charges. Counterterrorism police said the case reflects intensifying hostile Iranian activity, while Iran has repeatedly rejected the allegations.
The Guardian, the left-leaning outlet, leads with the plan to harm journalists. It names both men and all three targets, and stresses that they were hired through social media and entered Britain illegally, one by lorry and one by small boat. It places the case in a growing pattern of hostile states using proxies, citing the life sentence given last month to Norwegian teenager Johannes Natland. Deutsche Welle, an alternative source, leads with the verdict itself. It details the split between the two convictions, the acquittal, the defendants' explanations, police comments, the RAF Fairford security scare and the UK's July designation of the IRGC as a national security threat. Both agree on the convictions and the Iran International targets. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had.
How the sides differ Left sources stress hired proxies and a plan to harm journalists; alternative sources stress court details and the IRGC. Right sources have not covered it.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
The Guardian leads with the plan to harm UK-based journalists, naming both men and all three targets. It stresses social-media recruitment, illegal entry and the wider pattern of states hiring proxies.
Deutsche Welle leads with the verdict and court details: the differing convictions, the acquittal, the defendants' claims and police comments. It adds the IRGC designation and the RAF Fairford security scare.