Two men deny Iran-backed surveillance of Jewish and Israeli sites in London

Two men have pleaded not guilty to carrying out surveillance on Jewish and Israeli sites across London on behalf of Iran's intelligence service.

Nematollah Shahsavani, 41, and Alireza Farasati, 22, are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023.

Prosecutors allege the pair carried out hostile reconnaissance at several locations between 9 July and 15 August last year.

Targets allegedly included the Israeli embassy and consulate, a woman said to be of interest to Iran, a college, and Britain's oldest synagogue.

Both defendants entered their not guilty pleas during an appearance at the Old Bailey on Friday. Farasati appeared in person in the dock, while Shahsavani attended via video link from HMP Pentonville.

The court previously heard that police confiscated electronic devices from Farasati, a barber, when he was stopped on 14 August last year.

Prosecutors allege that Shahsavani directed Farasati to monitor and gather intelligence on London's Jewish and Israeli communities. Shahsavani, who works as a car salesman and delivery driver, was allegedly acting on instructions from Iranian intelligence.

Shahsavani, a dual British-Iranian national and father of two from North Finchley, north London, has lived in the UK since 2009.

Farasati, an Iranian national living in Colindale, north-west London, arrived in Britain as a 17-year-old in 2021.

Mrs Judge Cheema-Grubb scheduled a further pre-trial hearing for 12 February, with a full trial due to begin at the Old Bailey on 26 April next year.

Both men, who were detained in March, remain in custody.