LONDON – Iran’s embassy in London has dismissed as “unacceptable” accusations by British authorities that the Islamic Republic was involved in acts of violence and espionage in the United Kingdom, after a British court convicted two Iranian men of spying for Tehran.
The embassy released a statement on Thursday saying it “categorically rejects the British judicial authorities’ destructive actions in attributing the direction or support of acts of violence in the United Kingdom, as well as any alleged links between the individuals concerned and Iranian institutions, to the Government of Iran, or alleging that they were engaged in espionage activities.”
It also condemned “the instrumental use of security-related allegations and judicial proceedings to advance political agendas,” noting that such practices “create a climate conducive to hostile narratives” against Iran and “foster suspicion” towards Iranians residing in the United Kingdom.
The diplomatic mission urged British authorities to handle sensitive matters professionally and in full accordance with the law, and to “safeguard the rights of Iranian nationals, including access to legal counsel, the right to pursue legal remedies and appeals, and consular access, in accordance with the United Kingdom’s international obligations.”
Following a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court in south London, the two Iranian nationals were found guilty of purportedly monitoring targets who worked for the Israeli-affiliated media network Iran International and the chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel.
Frank Ferguson, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, claimed that the pair were promised rewards in exchange for sending intelligence, while one of them intended to go beyond surveillance to commit serious violence against his targets.
The defendants are expected to be sentenced at London’s Central Criminal Court, better known as the Old Bailey, on December 17.