UK summons Iran diplomat over journalist stabbing

Britain has summoned Iran's Chargé d’Affaires, its most senior diplomat in London, in response to the lengthy jail sentences handed down to two Romanian nationals for their role in stabbing a journalist who works for Iran International. The court's findings directly implicated the Iranian state in the attack.

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this attack (on the journalist) was carried out in the interests of, and on behalf of, the Iranian state.

Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, were sentenced to eight and 12 years in prison, respectively. British prosecutors presented evidence that the two men acted as proxies for the Iranian government in the March 2024 assault. Although they pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent, both were convicted at London's Woolwich Crown Court in June.

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This follows a longstanding pattern of hostile activity by the Iranian intelligence services on UK soil.

The judge presiding over the case concluded that the attack on journalist Pouria Zeraati was "carried out in the interests of, and on behalf of, the Iranian state." This finding reinforces concerns previously raised by British lawmakers who, last year, identified Iran as a significant and wide-ranging threat to Britain. The Foreign Office stated that the incident follows "a longstanding pattern of hostile activity by the Iranian intelligence services on UK soil."

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Iran’s actions attempt to undermine UK sovereignty and security and are completely unacceptable – it must cease these activities immediately.

"Iran’s actions attempt to undermine UK sovereignty and security and are completely unacceptable – it must cease these activities immediately," the British Foreign Office declared. Iran's embassy in London has previously rejected such allegations as "unfounded, politically motivated and hostile." The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Britain's latest diplomatic action.

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unfounded, politically motivated and hostile allegations.