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| Iran and Britain summon envoys over alleged spying in UK | Iran and Britain summon envoys over alleged spying in UK |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Britain and Iran have summoned each other's envoys after three Iranians were charged with spying in the UK. | |
| Three Iranian men were arrested on 3 May and appeared in court in London on Saturday charged with spying for the Islamic republic. | Three Iranian men were arrested on 3 May and appeared in court in London on Saturday charged with spying for the Islamic republic. |
| The IRNA news agency said the British charge d'affaire was asked on Sunday to give an explanation for what it said was "unjustified" and "politically motivated" arrests. | |
| The Foreign Office responded on Monday by summoning Tehran's ambassador to the UK. | |
| Alleged Iranian spies charged with targeting UK-based journalists | Alleged Iranian spies charged with targeting UK-based journalists |
| The Foreign Office said the government "is clear that protecting national security remains our top priority and Iran must be held accountable for its actions". | |
| "The summons follows this weekend's announcement which stated that three Iranian nationals had been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service," it added. | "The summons follows this weekend's announcement which stated that three Iranian nationals had been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service," it added. |
| The alleged spying took place from August 2024 to February 2025, according to the Metropolitan Police. | The alleged spying took place from August 2024 to February 2025, according to the Metropolitan Police. |
| Police identified them as Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, all living in London. | Police identified them as Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, all living in London. |
| A fourth man was arrested on 9 May as part of the investigation, but has been released without charge, the Met said. | A fourth man was arrested on 9 May as part of the investigation, but has been released without charge, the Met said. |
| The three men, who arrived in the UK between 2016 and 2022, were granted temporary leave to remain after claiming asylum. | The three men, who arrived in the UK between 2016 and 2022, were granted temporary leave to remain after claiming asylum. |
| It is alleged they carried out surveillance with a view to locating journalists associated with Iran International. | It is alleged they carried out surveillance with a view to locating journalists associated with Iran International. |
| From L to R: Mostafa Sepahvand, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, and Farhad Javadi Manesh | From L to R: Mostafa Sepahvand, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, and Farhad Javadi Manesh |
| Iran International produces coverage that is critical of the current regime in Iran and has been proscribed in Iran as a terrorist organisation. | Iran International produces coverage that is critical of the current regime in Iran and has been proscribed in Iran as a terrorist organisation. |
| "Iran must be held to account for its actions," Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement following Saturday's charges. | "Iran must be held to account for its actions," Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement following Saturday's charges. |
| "We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil," she added. | "We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil," she added. |
| It comes as five other Iranian men were arrested on the same day in London, Swindon, Stockport, Rochdale and Manchester as part of a separate counter-terrorism investigation. | It comes as five other Iranian men were arrested on the same day in London, Swindon, Stockport, Rochdale and Manchester as part of a separate counter-terrorism investigation. |
| Four of the men - who had been held on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act - had been released from custody, although the investigation "remains active and is ongoing", police said. | Four of the men - who had been held on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act - had been released from custody, although the investigation "remains active and is ongoing", police said. |
| The fifth man was earlier bailed to an unspecified date in May. | The fifth man was earlier bailed to an unspecified date in May. |