British-Iranian journalist Pouria Zerati

A British court on Monday heard explosive allegations that the Iranian state used Romanian citizens as “proxies” to carry out a knife attack on a London-based Iranian journalist associated with opposition broadcaster Iran International.Pouria Zerati, a British-Iranian journalist who worked for a Persian-language channel critical of Tehran, was stabbed three times near her home in Wimbledon, south-west London, in March 2024, according to news agency Reuters.Prosecutors described the attack as a “deliberate, planned act of violence” allegedly perpetrated by Iran.

Romanian couple on trial

Romanian nationals Nandito Badia, 21, and George Stana, 25, are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court. Both have denied charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and causing unlawful hurt.A third suspect, David Andrei, who was accused of restraining Gerati during the attack, was arrested in Romania, but is not part of the current trial.According to prosecutor Duncan Atkinson Casey, Badia allegedly stabbed Zerati while Andrei held him down. Stana is accused of driving the getaway car.

Prosecutors allege conspiracy linked to Iran

Opening the prosecution’s case, Atkinson told jurors that the attack was “no random attack or robbery” but a targeted campaign linked to Iran’s campaign of intimidation against dissidents and journalists abroad.“This was deliberate, planned violence intended to cause serious injury,” he said.The court heard that prosecutors believed the attack was ordered “by a third party acting on behalf of the Iranian state”, with the accused allegedly motivated by money.Iran has denied any involvement in the stabbing.

Iran International on target of Tehran

Zerati works for Iran International, a London-based Persian-language broadcaster that is backed by Saudi interests and is a staunch critic of the Iranian regime. Tehran had previously labeled the network a “terrorist organization” and accused it of serving as a spying platform.Jurors were told that in November 2022, posters featuring photographs of journalists, including Zerati, appeared in Tehran bearing the ominous message: “Wanted: dead or alive.”The prosecution argued that Zerati had become an “obvious and easily identifiable target” for violence.The court also heard claims that the operation involved months of surveillance.Prosecutors said Stana was stopped by police during an alleged reconnaissance near Zerati’s Wimbledon residence in March 2023. Officers reportedly found him wearing gloves and a surgical mask, carrying scissors, while another unidentified man had a sports bat hidden in a bag.WhatsApp messages shown to the jury allegedly discussed puncturing the tires of Zerati’s car.Further reconnaissance was reportedly carried out in the weeks before the March 2024 attack, with phone data placing suspects in the area repeatedly.

escape route and money route

After the stabbing, the attackers reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled in a Mazda driven by Stena before taking a taxi to Heathrow Airport. Prosecutors said the three then boarded a flight to Geneva.The court heard that investigators discovered more than £80,000 transferred through accounts linked to Stana’s sister, which was allegedly funded through a London-based construction company. Prosecutors claimed that spies linked the money transactions to a British-Iranian dual citizen.

Widespread pattern of ‘Iranian terror’

Atkinson told jurors that Iran had become dependent on criminal gangs and operatives hired abroad, rather than directly deploying its own agents.“In recent years, the Islamic Republic has increasingly used proxies, such as criminal gangs, to carry out threats and violence,” he said. He described the attack as part of a broader campaign of “Iranian terror” targeting dissidents and critics abroad.The trial is expected to last for several weeks.