A London lawyer was among the targets of two Iranian men convicted yesterday of espionage activities in apparent preparation for acts of 'serious violence', it has emerged.  

Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, were found to be working on behalf of the Iranian state and convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to the National Security Act 2023, following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court (pictured). Sepahvand was also found guilty of preparatory conduct, contrary to S18 of the National Security Act 2023

A third defendant, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was acquitted on all charges.

The court head that Sepahvand carried out surveillance on the homes and work addresses of critics of the Iranian regime. Targets included barrister Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, and Iranian journalists. 

Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter terrorism division said: 'This was a calculated operation to spy on those critical of the Iranian regime. Sepahvand and Manesh were promised rewards to send intelligence back to contacts in Iran and Sepahvand himself was willing to go beyond surveillance to commit serious violence against their targets. Thankfully, the defendants were stopped before any attack could take place.'

Sephavand admitted both the spying and the likelihood that his actions were capable of helping a foreign intelligence service, but claimed he was forced into this through fear of the consequences of not complying. Sepahvand led the contact with handlers in Iran while Manesh was feeding information, photographs and videos through to him.

Photographs, Google searches and addresses were found on Sephavand’s mobile indicating that he was searching for information on a specific target who had already left their home due to security concerns, the CPS said. A message sent by Sepahvand to his contact in Iran showed him asking for £150,000 to 'finish [the target] off' once they had been found.

Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, said: 'I am pleased and relieved that the two spies have been convicted. I am very grateful to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for investigating the case and bringing the prosecution - and more generally for all the efforts of the police to keep us safe. However the matters revealed in the trial are a reminder that Iran is a really serious threat to many people in the Middle East - not just Israelis but Arabs as well - and also to people in Britain, including on the streets of our capital.'

The two convicted men will be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on 17 December.