Two individuals have been accused of conducting surveillance on sites and persons associated with the Jewish community in the interest of Iran.

Nematollah Shahsavani, aged 40, and Alireza Farasati, aged 22, face charges for “engaging in activities that could support a foreign intelligence agency” from July 9, 2025, to August 15, 2025, in London, as stated by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The CPS specified that the allegations fall under offenses outlined in the National Security Act and pertain to suspected actions on behalf of Iran.

Shahsavani, a citizen of both Iran and Britain residing in north Finchley, and Farasati, an Iranian national residing in Edgware, are set to make a court appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (19 March).

The charges stem from a probe conducted by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London into purported surveillance activities on targets connected to the Jewish community in the London region.

The investigation led to the apprehension of four men, including Shahsavani and Farasati, on March 6. The other two individuals have been released without charges since then.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for CTP, remarked, “These charges under the National Security Act are exceptionally grave and follow a highly intricate investigation.”

Evans continued, “Since the arrests of the individuals two weeks ago, investigators have been diligently collecting and evaluating evidence, collaborating closely with the CPS to progress to this stage.”

She emphasized the commitment to safeguarding the public, particularly the Jewish community, and assured that swift action would be taken upon identifying potential threats to safety.

Evans encouraged the public to report any concerns to local law enforcement or through national reporting channels like www.gov.uk/ACT.

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated, “Two men are being prosecuted for violating the National Security Act.”

“Nematollah Shahsavani, aged 40, and Alireza Farasati, aged 22, face charges for engaging in activities likely to aid a foreign intelligence service between July 9, 2025, and August 15, 2025, as per section 3(2) of the National Security Act 2023.”

Ferguson clarified, “The charges relate to activities conducted within the UK, including information gathering and surveillance of targets, with Iran being the relevant country.”

He underscored the collaborative efforts with the Counter Terrorism Command at the Metropolitan Police during the investigation and reminded the public of the active criminal proceedings and the defendants’ right to a fair trial.

Ferguson stressed the importance of refraining from sharing information online that could prejudice the legal proceedings.