Britain and Iran have summoned each other’s top diplomats following the indictment of three Iranian nationals in London on charges of espionage. The Metropolitan Police allege that the accused-Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55-conducted spying activities from August 2024 to February 2025, specifically targeting journalists associated with Iran International, a broadcaster critical of the Iranian regime. The three men, who arrived in the UK as irregular migrants between 2016 and 2022, were arrested on May 3 and appeared in court on Saturday, facing accusations of acting to assist a foreign intelligence service.

In response to the charges, the British Foreign Office summoned Iran’s ambassador, Seyed Ali Mousavi, on Monday. Officials emphasized that national security is a top priority and insisted that Iran must be held accountable for its actions. The UK government’s statement underscored its commitment to countering state threats and protecting those at risk, particularly journalists targeted for their reporting on Iran. The Foreign Office’s move came just a day after Tehran called in the British chargé d’affaires to protest what Iranian state media described as “unjustified” and “politically motivated” arrests.

Iran’s foreign ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction over the detentions, characterizing them as violations of international law and warning the UK against further “unconstructive behaviour” that could harm diplomatic relations. Iranian officials argued that the arrests were intended to apply political pressure and dismissed the allegations as baseless. The IRNA news agency reported that Iran views the judicial proceedings as part of a broader campaign against the Islamic Republic’s interests in Britain.

This diplomatic standoff occurs amid heightened tensions between the two countries. Alongside the espionage case, British police have also arrested other Iranian nationals in separate counter-terrorism operations, with some suspects released but investigations ongoing. Both governments remain firm in their positions, with the UK stressing vigilance against foreign interference and Iran decrying what it sees as politically charged actions by British authorities.