Overview

• Iran’s charge d’affaires in the UK, Mehdi Hosseini Matin, denies any connection to the stabbing of Pouria Zeraati, a presenter at Iran International, in London.
• The Metropolitan police are leading the investigation with counter-terrorism officers, given Zeraati's job and recent threats to UK-based Iranian journalists.
• Iran International has been under threat from the Iranian regime, which has labeled the channel a terrorist organisation and allegedly targeted its staff.
• In December 2023, an investigation revealed a foiled assassination attempt on Iran International journalists, planned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
• UK and US sanctions target Iranian officials for threats against journalists and human rights defenders, amid efforts to combat Iran's transnational repression.