British counter-terrorism prosecutors have charged two men with spying on London’s Jewish community on behalf of Iran, the Crown Prosecution Service announced on March 18.

Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a dual British-Iranian national from North Finchley, and Alireza Farasati, 22, an Iranian national from Edgware, face charges under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023 for engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service. The alleged activities — gathering information and conducting reconnaissance of targets linked to the Jewish community — took place between July 9 and August 15, 2025, according to the CPS.

Both men were among four individuals arrested on March 6 by Counter Terrorism Policing London. The two other men arrested that day have been released without charge.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans called the charges “extremely serious,” adding that detectives had been “working around the clock to gather and assess the evidence.”

The charges come amid growing concern over Iranian intelligence operations targeting Jewish communities across Europe. Experts have warned that the conflict with Iran has heightened the threat to Jewish institutions and individuals on the continent, according to Euronews.

Shahsavani and Farasati are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 19. Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, urged that “there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Sources