Three men were charged for allegedly assisting the Iranian Foreign Intelligence Agency under the National Security Law.

Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, of Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, of Kensal Rise, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 55, of Kensal Rise, and Shapoor Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori of Ealing appeared at Westminster District Court on Saturday.

The three defendants spoke through the Borsey interpreter during a brief court hearing to confirm their names, dates of birth and address.

All three arrived in the UK by irregular means, including boats and vans, between 2016 and 2022.

No one entered the plea without anyone wearing a grey sweatshirt, Sepahvand was in a wheelchair and Noori ran to the dock.

Scotland Yard said the counter-terrorism investigation resulted in three Iranian men being charged between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025 for their involvement in activities that could assist foreign intelligence agencies. They were arrested Saturday, May 3.

Sepahvand is also charged with conduct. Surveillance, reconnaissance and open source research, intending to commit serious violence against someone in the UK.

Manesh and Noori are also charged with surveillance and reconnaissance with the aim of causing serious violence against a person in the UK.

Another man was arrested under the National Security Act on Friday, May 9 and was released on Thursday.

They were remanded and a preliminary hearing will be held on June 6 in Old Bailey.

Magistrate Annabel Pilling told the defendant: “I sent the case to the Central Criminal Court.

“If you plead not guilty, you will be tried in the judge and in the jury at due time.

"The next phase will be the preliminary hearing of professional judge Mrs. Cheema-Grubb on June 6."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Iran must "reproach its actions."

Cooper said: “I would like to thank the Police and Security Services for their ongoing work on this very serious investigation and their great dedication to protecting our national security and the security of our communities.

“The charges filed against these three people now must be implemented through the criminal justice system to achieve their course and nothing can be done to harm the outcome of these lawsuits.

“However, we will also take separate actions to address the very serious broader issues raised in this case. The police confirmed that foreign countries related to Iran-related foreign countries related to these allegations must possess Iran to consider their actions.

“We must also strengthen our authority to protect our national security because we will not tolerate growing national threats in the soil.

“Protecting national security is the primary responsibility of the government. Police and security departments continue to support us in their important work and we will take any action to address the complex threats we face and ensure the safety of our country and our people.”

CMDR Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Counter-Terrorism Command said: “These allegations are very serious under the National Security Act and these allegations follow a very complex and rapid investigation.

“Detectives have been working around the clock as these men were arrested two weeks ago, and we have worked closely with colleagues in CPS to achieve this. We have been in touch with individuals who are directly affected and we continue to support them.”

“Since these people are being prosecuted, I urge people not to speculate on the case so that criminal justice processes can achieve their route.”

"After reviewing the evidence provided by the Counter-Terrorism Command of the Metropolitan Police Department, we authorize crimes against three Iranian nationals," said Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecutor's Special Crimes and Counter-Terrorism Division.