Iran Intensifies Threats Against Journalists in London

A rally is held in London in support of the protests in Iran. (dpa)
A rally is held in London in support of the protests in Iran. (dpa)
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Iran Intensifies Threats Against Journalists in London

A rally is held in London in support of the protests in Iran. (dpa)
A rally is held in London in support of the protests in Iran. (dpa)

Employees of businesses and media firms at London’s Chiswick Business Park were alarmed by the unprecedented deployment of Metropolitan Police in the area in recent days.

The move was followed by the deployment of counter-terrorism forces and later the erection of checkpoints.

The intense security measures are aimed at protecting the headquarters of Iran International, the independent Persian language channel whose staff have received death threats as protests raged throughout Iran for the third consecutive month.

As the protests continued to intensify, Iranian security and intelligence authorities increased their crackdown and threats against the opposition abroad. Journalists in western countries have been their favorite target after they exposed the extent of the excessive use of force the regime has used to suppress the protests at home.

Employees at Iran International told Asharq Al-Awsat that the threats intensified as the protests picked up steam throughout Iran.

British police were the first to inform them of the threat back in October.

They were told that the threat was real and imminent against employees at the channel, but they were vague on the details.

They revealed that Tehran had in fact been increasing its threats since about a year ago.

At the time Iranian officials were threatening opposition media without targeting any specific one. But since the eruption of the protests in wake of the death of Mahsa Amini in September, the threats have only increased, with Iran International actually being named.

Iran International is the most watched foreign-based opposition news channel in Iran. It enjoys around 33 percent of viewers, nearly double its closest competitor.

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have accused foreign-based Persian language media outlets of stoking the protests. Tehran has imposed strict restrictions on the coverage of the protests on local media.

Besides Iran International, Tehran has pressured the Persian service of the BBC and the United States’ Radio Farda and the Persian Deutsche Welle.

With the increased threats, British police upped security at the headquarters of Iran International.

The employees told Asharq Al-Awsat that the police coordinates and shares information with them about the extent of the danger and threats.

They spoke of an incident in which security noticed two men and a woman with a baby that were strolling back and forth in front of the channel’s headquarters until late at night. The security guards found it unusual that they would keep the baby out at such a late hour, so they approached the “family” to ask if it needed any help.

The guards were then surprised when the men asked about the security measures at the building. The guards informed the administration about the incident.

The employees told Asharq Al-Awsat that Tehran often turns to drug dealers, money-launderers or religious extremists to hire as agents to carry out its threats.

Last week, British counter-terrorism police increased their security measures at Iran International. They set up cement blocks like the ones erected at government buildings and tourism landmarks to prevent car rammings.

The British government had also recently summoned Iran’s top diplomat in London to protest against no less than ten plots to kill people residing in the UK whom Tehran views as “opponents of the regime”.



Russia, North Korea Foreign Ministers Meet, Pyongyang Backs Ukraine War

12 July 2025, North Korea, Wonsan: Sergei Lavrov (2nd L), Foreign Minister of Russia, and his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui (3rd R) hold a meeting. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa
12 July 2025, North Korea, Wonsan: Sergei Lavrov (2nd L), Foreign Minister of Russia, and his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui (3rd R) hold a meeting. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa
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Russia, North Korea Foreign Ministers Meet, Pyongyang Backs Ukraine War

12 July 2025, North Korea, Wonsan: Sergei Lavrov (2nd L), Foreign Minister of Russia, and his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui (3rd R) hold a meeting. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa
12 July 2025, North Korea, Wonsan: Sergei Lavrov (2nd L), Foreign Minister of Russia, and his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui (3rd R) hold a meeting. Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his North Korean counterpart in the coastal city of Wonsan on Saturday, during which Pyongyang reaffirmed its support for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, the TASS state news agency reported.

Lavrov flew out of Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday following the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, arriving the same day in Wonsan, North Korea, home to a newly opened seaside resort but also known for its missile and naval facilities, reported Reuters.

Lavrov's visit is the latest high-level meeting between the two countries as they upgrade their strategic cooperation to now include a mutual defense pact.

"We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis ... Our Korean friends confirmed their firm support for all the objectives of the special military operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and armed forces," TASS quoted Lavrov as saying.

The South Korean intelligence service has said North Korea may be preparing to deploy additional troops in July or August, after sending more than 10,000 soldiers to fight with Russia in the war against Ukraine.

North Korea has agreed to dispatch 6,000 military engineers and builders for reconstruction in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a mass cross-border incursion nearly a year ago.

Russian news agencies also reported Lavrov's arrival and said after North Korea he is expected to travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting, which is set to take place on Monday and Tuesday.

TASS said the new Wonsan coastal resort could boost Russian tourism to North Korea, citing the resumption of direct trains from Moscow to Pyongyang and a project to build a bridge across the Tumen River forming part of the boundary between North Korea, China and Russia.

TASS quoted Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying more high-level delegations would visit North Korea later this year.

Rudenko said the accord on strategic partnership "clearly meets the changing needs over recent decades and strengthens traditionally friendly, good-neighborly Russian-Korean relations to a qualitatively new level as allies."