Two suspects plead not guilty of surveilling Israeli embassy in London on behalf of Iran

Two men accused of being tasked by Iran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy in London, Britain's oldest synagogue, and other Israeli or Jewish targets pleaded not guilty on Friday.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 offense under the National Security Act.The pair are among several individuals who have been charged in separate cases with acting on behalf of Iran in Britain.Britain has recently accused Iran of being behind a suspected plot targeting the US-linked RAF Fairford military base, with seven men arrested and then released on bail.Iran has denied any involvement in hostile activity in Britain, including the alleged RAF Fairford plot, after which the US removed its B-1 bombers from the base.The pair are alleged to have gathered information and undertaken reconnaissance in July and August 2025, with a list of targets including the Israeli Embassy, the Israeli Consulate, and London's Bevis Marks Synagogue.Unnamed individual of interest to Iran one alleged target of surveillance Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said one of the alleged targets also included an unnamed individual "of intelligence interest" to Iran.After they were charged in March, Britain's Foreign Office said it had summoned Iran's ambassador to the UK.Shahsavani and Farasati were remanded in custody ahead of their next court appearance in February, with their trial due to begin in April.Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in hostile activity in Britain, which authorities say has markedly increased since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 that triggered the subsequent war in Gaza.