UK Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Alleged Spying on Jewish Community
Britain’s foreign ministry has summoned Iran’s ambassador to London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, following the charging of two individuals accused of spying on members of the UK’s Jewish community for Iran’s intelligence agency. The move underscores the UK’s serious concerns regarding Iran’s “reckless and destabilising actions,” both domestically and internationally.
Details of the Case
The ambassador was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on Monday, March 23, 2026, on the instruction of Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Middle East minister Hamish Falconer conveyed the UK’s grave concerns during the meeting .
Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a British-Iranian dual national, and Alireza Farasati, 22, an Iranian national, were charged on Wednesday, March 19, 2026, under the National Security Act. They are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July 9 and August 15, 2025 .
Prosecutors revealed that devices seized from the suspects contained a list of potential targets, including the Israeli embassy, the Israeli consulate in London, and a London synagogue .
UK Government Response
A Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “National security remains our top priority, and we capture threats posed by Iran and those who do its bidding extremely seriously.” The spokesperson added that the government will “take all measures necessary to protect the British people, including exposing Iran’s reckless and destabilising actions at home and abroad” .
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans of the Metropolitan Police’s counter terrorism unit reassured the public, particularly the Jewish community, stating, “We fully recognize that the public… will be concerned but I hope this investigation reassures them that we will not hesitate to take action if we identify there may be a threat to their safety, and will be relentless in our pursuit of those who may be responsible” .
Background on Seyed Ali Mousavi
Seyed Ali Mousavi has served as the Ambassador of Iran to the United Kingdom since 2025. Prior to this role, he was the Director General of the Department for International Legal Affairs for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs .