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Two alleged Iranian spies carried out “hostile” surveillance on the Israeli embassy in London, a court has been told.
Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a dual Iranian-British national, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, an Iranian national, are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July 9 and August 15 last year.
The two men appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday and were remanded in custody.
Mr Shahsavani is alleged to have identified targets in London for surveillance, including the Israeli embassy and consulate, the JW3 community centre in Finchley, and the Bevis Marks Synagogue in Aldgate, which is Britain’s oldest synagogue.
The court was told a woman living in the UK who has been accused of being a Mossad agent was also an alleged target.
Other alleged targets included the Sternberg Centre for Judaism – the home of the rabbi training centre Leo Baeck College - schools, a museum, the charity Community Security Trust, plus a home in Colchester.
The pair were arrested and detained on March 6 as part of a counter-terrorism investigation into alleged surveillance of locations and people linked to the Jewish community in London.
Mr Shahsavani and Mr Farasati appeared in the dock together to face the charge, brought under the National Security Act 2023.
Louise Attrill, prosecuting, said: “The two defendants are suspected of assisting the Iranian intelligence service by conducting hostile surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Israeli and Jewish community.”
Mr Shahsavani, a delivery driver, is said to have “tasked” Mr Farasati “to conduct the surveillance activity against Israeli and Jewish sites and possible targets linked to the Iranian intelligence service”.
It is said Mr Shahsavani and Mr Farasati had been “gathering information and undertaking reconnaissance of targets, and knew or ought to have known their conduct was likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service”.
Neither defendant entered a plea during the hearing. They are due to appear next at the Old Bailey on April 17.
Two other men who were arrested on March 6 as part of the investigation have been released without charge.
