Knife Attack on Iran International Journalist Sparks Terror Probe in London
Journalist Pouria Zeraati Stabbed
Pouria Zeraati was slashed multiple times in a brutal knife attack. He is in stable condition but remains in hospital as London’s Metropolitan Police launch a full investigation. The motive behind the assault is still unknown.
Shadow of Iranian Regime Looms
The attack comes just months after a foiled plot by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard to assassinate two other Iran International journalists in London. The National Crime Agency and MI5 are believed to be involved in the ongoing inquiries.
Iran International’s reporters have long been targeted for exposing regime abuses and amplifying voices of dissidents and human rights activists. In November 2022, police guarded the network’s London offices following credible threats against its staff.
History of Threats and Espionage
- In early 2023, Iran International temporarily shuttered its London studios and shifted broadcast operations to Washington DC.
- A suspected spy caught scouting the London office was jailed for 3.5 years in December 2023 after a counter-terrorism trial. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, originally from Chechnya and living in Austria, was convicted of collecting information that could aid terror attacks.
- The UK National Union of Journalists condemned the recent knife attack. NUJ chief Michelle Stanistreet called it a “cowardly assault” and urged for greater protection for journalists targeted by the Iranian regime.
Political Reaction and Unfolding Threat
MP Alicia Kearns, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, slammed the ongoing intimidation campaign by Tehran. She warns that UK and allies lack clear strategies to shield journalists and dissidents residing at home.
Last December, ITV unveiled chilling details of an IRGC assassination plot on two Iran International anchors in London during 2022 protests. The plan was thwarted when the hired hitman turned out to be a double agent working for Western intelligence.
IRGC commander Mohammad Reza Ansari, linked to plots targeting former US officials Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, masterminded the attempt. He allegedly directed the assassin to use a “quiet” knife attack—cynically codenamed “the wedding.”
With these deadly threats continuing on UK soil, security agencies face mounting pressure to protect journalists and UK interests from foreign terror tactics.
