Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati face serious allegations of conducting hostile surveillance targeting London’s Jewish community on behalf of Iranian intelligence. The pair appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, accused of monitoring key Jewish sites and the Israeli Embassy.
Allegations of Hostile Surveillance for Iranian Intelligence
The 40-year-old Shahsavani and 22-year-old Farasati stand accused of spying on multiple high-profile locations, including the Israeli Embassy, the Israeli Consulate, Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, a local Jewish community centre, and the Community Security Trust, a charity dedicated to Jewish security advice.
Authorities also revealed a woman residing in the UK, allegedly labeled a Mossad agent, was among the surveillance targets. Both men are charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July 9 and August 15 of last year.
Details from the Court Proceedings
Prosecutor Louise Attrill emphasized that the defendants are suspected of aiding Iranian intelligence by performing hostile reconnaissance against individuals and locations connected to the Israeli and Jewish communities.
Shahsavani, a dual Iranian-British national and father of two from North Finchley, has lived in the UK since 2009. Farasati, originally from Iran and now residing in Colindale, north-west London, arrived in the UK in 2021 as a 17-year-old and is a trained barber.
During the hearing, Shahsavani was seen wearing a blue puffa jacket and notably blew a kiss towards the public gallery as he was escorted to the cells. Both men declined to enter a plea to the single charge under the National Security Act 2023. They were remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on April 17.
Coordination and Surveillance Activities
According to the prosecution, Shahsavani allegedly directed Farasati to carry out surveillance operations on Israeli and Jewish sites, coordinating activities linked to Iranian intelligence objectives. The pair are accused of gathering sensitive information and conducting reconnaissance, fully aware that their actions likely aided a foreign intelligence agency.
