Two Romanian men sentenced for stabbing Iranian-British journalist outside London home
Two Romanian men were sentenced to eight and 12 years in prison on Friday for the stabbing of Iranian-British journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his home in Wimbledon, London, in a case that British prosecutors described as an attack directed by Iran’s intelligence services. The verdict, delivered at the Old Bailey, marks the first time a British court has explicitly linked the assault to Tehran’s campaign against dissident media, reinforcing concerns over transnational repression of journalists.
Zeraati, a presenter for Iran International—a London-based Persian-language broadcaster that Tehran has designated a “terrorist” organisation—was attacked on 26 March 2024 while walking home from work. The two defendants, identified in court as Nicolae C. and Daniel M., were arrested days later and charged with conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Prosecutors presented evidence that the men had received instructions from Iranian handlers and were paid £10,000 to carry out the assault, according to court documents .
The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Johnson, said the attack was “clearly intended to silence a critic of the Iranian regime” and that the men had acted as “instruments of a foreign power.” The eight- and 12-year terms reflect the gravity of the offence and the court’s view that the men were aware of the political context of their actions. Iran has repeatedly denied involvement, but British security officials have privately described the case as part of a broader pattern of extraterritorial violence against exiled critics.
The verdict comes amid heightened scrutiny of Iran’s overseas operations. In April 2026, Europol launched Operation Medusa, a cross-border initiative involving Romanian and Hungarian police that has led to the arrest of more than 50 suspects linked to online networks organising sexual violence against women . Separately, a Moscow court sentenced 12 people to between six and 20 years in prison for plotting to assassinate Margarita Simonian, editor-in-chief of RT and a prominent Kremlin propagandist, in a 2023 attack .
Zeraati survived the attack but required emergency surgery. His employer, Iran International, operates from a heavily fortified building in west London and has been a frequent target of Iranian cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. The case has prompted calls from press freedom groups for European governments to strengthen protections for journalists operating in exile. “This verdict sends a clear message that the UK will not tolerate foreign actors using violence to suppress free speech,” said a spokesperson for Reporters Without Borders.
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