LONDON — Britain took direct diplomatic action Tuesday, summoning Iran’s Chargé d’Affaires — Tehran’s highest-ranking diplomatic representative in London — in the wake of prison sentences handed down against two men convicted in the stabbing of a journalist working for a Persian-language media outlet.
The two convicted men, identified as Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, are Romanian nationals whom British prosecutors characterized as proxies acting on behalf of the Iranian government. Last week, a court sentenced Badea to eight years in prison and Stana to 12 years for their roles in the 2024 attack.
Both men had denied the charges of wounding with intent, but a jury at London’s Woolwich Crown Court found them guilty in June.
The victim, Pouria Zaratifoukolaei — better known by his professional name Pouria Zeraati — is a British journalist of Iranian descent who works for Iran International. He was stabbed three times in the leg near his home in southwest London in March 2024.
The British Foreign Office released a statement noting that the presiding judge had determined the assault “was carried out in the interests of, and on behalf of, the Iranian state.”
The statement went on to say the incident “follows a longstanding pattern of hostile activity by the Iranian intelligence services on UK soil,” adding that “Iran’s actions attempt to undermine UK sovereignty and security and are completely unacceptable – it must cease in these activities immediately.”
British lawmakers had previously warned that Iran represents a serious and broad threat to the United Kingdom. Iran’s embassy in London had previously dismissed what it called “unfounded, politically motivated and hostile allegations.” The embassy did not respond to a request for comment regarding Britain’s latest diplomatic move.
