UK Summons Iranian Envoy After Journalist Attack Sentencing

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned the Iranian Chargé d'Affaires, Ali Nasimfar, on July 7, 2026, following the sentencing of two Romanian nationals for a March 2024 attack on journalist Pouria Zeraati. Zeraati, a news presenter for Iran International, was stabbed three times near his home in Wimbledon, London. A judge at Woolwich Crown Court concluded the attack was carried out in the interests of and on behalf of the Iranian state, noting a pattern of hostile activity by Iranian intelligence services. The defendants, George Stana and Nandito Badea, received prison sentences of 12 and eight years, respectively.

British security minister Angela Eagle condemned the incident as an abhorrent attack and stated the government would hold the Iranian regime to account. The UK government characterized Iran's actions as unacceptable attempts to undermine British sovereignty and security, demanding an immediate end to such activities.

In response, the Government of Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran on July 9. Iranian officials rejected the court's findings as unfounded and politically motivated accusations. Through state news agency IRNA, Iran claimed the United Kingdom violates international legal obligations by hosting channels it described as terrorist entities financed by Israel, specifically referencing the BBC's Persian-language channel and Iran International.