Two men deny Iran-linked surveillance charge over Israeli and Jewish targets in London
Two men pleaded not guilty at London’s Old Bailey to a National Security Act offence involving alleged surveillance of Israeli and Jewish targets for Iran.
London, United Kingdom. Two men accused of being tasked by Iran to conduct hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy, Britain’s oldest synagogue and other Israeli or Jewish targets pleaded not guilty on Friday.
Charge and alleged targets
Nematollah Shahsavani, a 41-year-old dual Iranian-British national, and Alireza Farasati, a 22-year-old Iranian national, appeared at London’s Old Bailey court and denied a single offence under the National Security Act.
The pair are alleged to have gathered information and carried out reconnaissance in July and August 2025. The listed targets included the Israeli Embassy, the Israeli Consulate and London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue, Britain’s oldest synagogue.
Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said the alleged targets also included an unnamed individual “of intelligence interest” to Iran.
Further proceedings
Shahsavani and Farasati were remanded in custody ahead of their next court appearance in February. Their trial is due to begin in April.
Iran denies involvement
Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in hostile activity in Britain. British authorities say such activity has markedly increased since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, which triggered the subsequent war in Gaza.
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