LONDON: Three Iranian nationals appeared in court in London on Saturday charged with suspected espionage for Iran’s intelligence services, UK police said, as the British government vowed to boost security powers.

The charges come amid heightened concerns about Iranian activities on British soil.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said following the charges that “Iran must be held to account for its actions”. “We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil,” she said.

The three were all remanded in custody following a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London. They were arrested on May 3 in what the capital’s police called “a very complex and fast-moving investigation”.

They were named as Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, all with addresses in London.

The alleged spying activity took place from August last year to February this year, according to police.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2025