LONDON (AP) Two Romanian men, Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, were convicted on Friday by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court for their involvement in the stabbing of journalist Pouria Zeraati. The attack took place outside Zeraati's home in the Wimbledon area of London in March 2024, where he was stabbed in the leg. Prosecutors allege that the violent act was carried out at the behest of Iranian authorities.
Zeraati is a presenter for Iran International, a London-based Persian-language television station that has received threats due to its critical coverage of Iran’s theocratic government. Following the attack, Zeraati was able to recover and return to work. The court heard that Badea, a former professional soccer player, and another unidentified man attacked Zeraati before escaping in a car driven by Stana, before flying out of the UK from Heathrow Airport.
The duo was arrested in Romania in December 2024 and extradited back to the United Kingdom. A third suspect, David Andrei, is currently facing criminal proceedings in Romania. Chief Superintendent Kris Wright of Counter Terrorism Policing London noted that this was a targeted and violent attack, and the prosecution claimed during the trial that it was executed on behalf of the Iranian regime. However, the jury's verdict does not definitively conclude that the attack was sanctioned by Iran, which remains a critical aspect that the judge may address at the sentencing scheduled for July 3.
The Iranian government has denied any involvement in the attack. The case has raised concerns about the safety of opposition media and community groups in the UK, particularly those that operate in the Farsi language. Iran International, the news channel targeted in this incident, has previously had to temporarily relocate its operations to Washington, D.C., in 2023, citing state-backed threats from Iran. The station has since resumed broadcasting from a new London location.
UK security officials have indicated a sharp rise in threats and plots orchestrated by Iran against dissidents and opposition media on British soil. Ken McCallum, head of Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service, revealed in October that more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots had been disrupted within the past year. This reflects a broader trend of increasing aggression towards Iranian dissidents living abroad, particularly those who express dissent against the Iranian government.
In addition to the threats against media outlets, an Iranian proxy group has taken responsibility for a series of recent antisemitic attacks in the UK, including stabbings and attempted fire bombings at synagogues. Such incidents further underscore the precarious situation faced by opposition figures and minority communities impacted by state-sponsored violence from Iran.
