Two Iranian men were convicted of spying on journalists opposing the Iranian regime in Britain. These individuals were acting on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran and were convicted of this crime on Thursday at the Woolwich court in London.
Court Ruling and Case Details
The British anti-terrorism police stated that this case reflects an increase in Iran's hostile activities in the country. The accused men, both in their forties, were arrested last year, and Iran has repeatedly denied these allegations.
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The Woolwich court convicted one of these men not only of spying on journalists from the Iran International television network, which operates in Persian, but also for planning a violent attack against one of them. The second accused was tried for planning an attack but was only convicted of spying.
Security Analyses and Reactions
One of the accused claimed that he acted under pressure and threat from his family, while the other stated that he was unaware that his actions were aiding Iranian intelligence. In this case, a ٥٧-year-old Iranian man was also acquitted of all charges.
These individuals were accused of carrying out actions that likely assisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Revolutionary Guard is recognized as a multi-faceted military force, particularly in connection with the country's religious leadership, and Britain identified this entity as a threat to its national security in July. Under new laws, supporting this organization could result in penalties of up to ١٤ years in prison.
The issuance of a ruling in this case is still pending and is scheduled for mid-December. Frank Ferguson, the senior prosecutor for special crimes and terrorism, described this operation as highly calculated and stated, "Fortunately, the accused were stopped before any attack could occur."
Additionally, Vicky Evans, the national senior coordinator for anti-terrorism police, announced that the Revolutionary Guard or Iranian intelligence "intermediaries" were directing this scheme. The Iranian government has repeatedly denied these allegations, and the country's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, expressed concern over the arrest of these three individuals.
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