Three Iranian men have been charged with offences under the National Security Act, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.
Police arrested and detained the three men on May 3 after a major counter terrorism investigation.
The three men – Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55 – have been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.
Sepahvand was also charged with engaging in conduct, namely surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research, between August 2024 and February 2025.
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation
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Manesh and Noori have also been charged with the same offence, but with the intention that violence “would be committed by others”.
Police say the foreign state to which the charges relate is Iran.
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation.
Commander Dominic Murphy explained the charges are “extremely serious”.
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He 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.”
Commander Murphy encouraged people “not to speculate” after the three men had been charged.
The three men are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
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The trio have been remanded in custody and are due to appear on May 17 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
A fourth man was also arrested on May 9 under Section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.
The 31-year-old man was released without charge on May 15, after a warrant for further detention was obtained, meaning the man could be detained until May 16.
