Brief
Two Iranian‑British men deny spying on UK Jewish community
Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati denied charges of assisting Iranian intelligence, with a trial set for April 2027.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A car salesman and a barber accused of spying on members of the Israeli and Jewish communities in the UK on behalf of Iran pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey on 9 Oct 2026, according to the Independent.
Both men – 41‑year‑old Nematollah Shahsavani, a dual Iranian‑British national living in North Finchley, and 23‑year‑old Alireza Farasati, an Iranian‑born barber from Colindale – are charged under the National Security Act 2023 with conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service. The alleged espionage took place between 9 July and 15 August 2025 and included surveillance of the Israeli embassy, a woman of interest to Iran, a college and Britain’s oldest synagogue.
Shahsavani appeared via videolink from Pentonville jail, while Farasati sat in the dock. A pre‑trial hearing is scheduled for 12 Feb 2027 and the substantive trial for 26 Apr 2027.
Key facts
- Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati pleaded not guilty to spying charges (independent.co.uk)
- They are charged under the National Security Act 2023 for conduct between 9 July and 15 August 2025 (independent.co.uk)
- Trial set for 26 April 2027 with a pre‑trial hearing on 12 February 2027 (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Two men deny spying on UK Jewish community for Iran”
