Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the British charge d’affaires in Tehran on Sunday to protest the arrests of several Iranian nationals in the United Kingdom on espionage charges, state media reported Monday.
The diplomatic move came after British authorities detained seven Iranians earlier this month in two separate operations. Iran’s IRNA news agency cited a Foreign Ministry official alleging the arrests were politically motivated and intended to "exert pressure" on the Islamic Republic.
The UK government has designated Iran as a top-tier foreign influence risk, requiring Tehran to disclose any political influence activities in Britain. Tensions escalated further on Monday when Britain summoned Iran’s ambassador, Seyed Ali Mousavi, after three Iranian nationals were charged with espionage.
The reciprocal summonses highlight deteriorating relations between London and Tehran. Iran condemned the arrests as "illegal and unjustified," accusing the UK of violating international law by denying timely consular access. The Foreign Ministry warned against further "unconstructive behavior" that could harm bilateral ties.
Three of the detained Iranians—Mostafa Sepahvand, 39; Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44; and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55—appeared in a London court on Saturday. They were charged under the UK’s National Security Act with conducting surveillance and plotting violence against UK-based journalists for an Iranian news outlet.
British authorities allege the men, who entered the UK as irregular migrants between 2016 and 2022, engaged in espionage from August 2024 to February 2025. Their case has been referred to a higher court, with a hearing scheduled for June.
Four other Iranians, arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, were released but remain under investigation.
The UK Foreign Office reiterated its stance in a statement: "Protecting national security remains our top priority, and Iran must be held accountable for its actions."