Two men accused of spying on Israeli embassy for Iran deny National Security Act charge
Prosecutors say the pair gathered intelligence on Jewish and Israeli sites and were remanded in custody ahead of an April trial.
- On Friday, Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati pleaded not guilty to charges of carrying out hostile surveillance on Israeli and Jewish targets in the UK on behalf of Iran.
- The 41-year-old Shahsavani and 22-year-old Farasati allegedly gathered intelligence between July and August 2025 under instructions from Iranian intelligence services.
- Alleged targets included the Israeli Embassy, Israeli Consulate, and London's Bevis Marks Synagogue, with Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb noting one individual was 'of intelligence interest' to Iran.
- Following their appearance at the Old Bailey, Cheema-Grubb remanded both defendants into custody with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for February 12 and trial set for April 26, 2027.
- British authorities report hostile activity has increased significantly since the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, though Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in such operations within Britain.
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12 Articles
Sky News UK
Great Yorkshire RadioTwo men accused of spying on Israeli embassy for Iran deny National Security Act charge
Nematollah Shahsavani, 41, and Alireza Farasati, 23, pleaded not guilty to engaging in conduct likely to assist the Iranian foreign intelligence service between 9 July 2025 and 15 August last year.
Two Iranians plead not guilty to spying on Israeli, Jewish targets in U.K.
The alleged surveillance, carried out in July and August 2025, also targeted an individual described by a judge as being 'of intelligence interest' to Iran. The two men were remanded in custody ahead of an April trial
Two suspects plead not guilty of surveilling Israeli embassy in London on behalf of Iran
Nematollah Shahsavani, a 41-year-old dual Iranian-British national, and Alireza Farasati, a 22-year-old Iranian national, appeared at London's Old Bailey court and denied a single offense.
Two men deny carrying out surveillance for Iran of Israeli embassy in UK
Two Iranian nationals accused of being tasked by Iran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy in London, Britain's oldest synagogue and other Israeli or Jewish targets pleaded not guilty on Friday.
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