**Three Iranians Charged with Targeting British Citizens in Alleged Espionage Plot**

In a high-profile case that has escalated concerns about foreign interference, three Iranian men were brought before a London court on Saturday, accused of collaborating with Iran's intelligence services to target individuals in Britain. The suspects—Mostafa Sepahvand, 39; Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44; and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55—face charges under Britain's National Security Act. According to legal documents, the men engaged in activities likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between August 14 of last year and February 16.

Additional charges allege that the trio conducted surveillance and reconnaissance as part of a plot to inflict serious harm on an unnamed individual. The Metropolitan Police revealed that the men were apprehended and detained on May 3. Official statements confirmed the involvement of Iran as the foreign state linked to these charges.

The BBC reported that the men allegedly targeted journalists affiliated with Iran International, an independent Persian-language broadcaster based in London that has been openly critical of the Iranian government. The defendants, who reside in London, entered the UK illegally between 2016 and 2022, with two arriving via small boats from France.

Yvette Cooper, Britain's home secretary, emphasized that the charges against these individuals will proceed through the criminal justice system without prejudice. She underscored the broader implications of the case, stating, "We will also take separate action to address the very serious wider issues raised by this case. The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions.”

Cooper expressed gratitude to the police, affirming, "We will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil."

Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, Britain's domestic security service, has previously flagged Iran as a significant concern for counterterrorism efforts. In a speech last year, McCallum disclosed that since January 2022, security services had been probing 20 Iranian-backed schemes that posed lethal threats to British citizens and residents.