British police have charged three Iranian men with offenses under the National Security Act after a major counter-terrorism investigation, the police said on Saturday.
British counter-terrorism police arrested eight men including seven Iranians earlier this month in two separate operations in what the British interior minister called some of the biggest investigations of their kind in recent years.
Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024, and February 16, 2025, the police said in a statement.
The foreign state to which the charges relate is Iran, they added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was “disturbed” to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by British authorities.
The British government has placed Iran on the highest tier of its foreign influence register, requiring Tehran to register everything it does to exert political influence in the UK.
British police charge three Iranians in counter terrorism probe
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British police charge three Iranians in counter terrorism probe
Venezuela looks to rebuild diplomatic ties with US
- The State Department said US officials were assessing a “potential phased resumption” of embassy operations
- Washington and Caracas have signaled they are seeking cooperation
CARACAS: Venezuela’s government has begun exploring the potential to expand diplomatic ties with the United States, with US State Department officials traveling to Caracas for technical and logistical assessments, it said in a statement on Friday.
The State Department separately said the US officials were assessing a “potential phased resumption” of embassy operations in the South American country.
Washington and Caracas have signaled they are seeking cooperation since last week’s dramatic US military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. His vice president Delcy Rodriguez took over as interim leader.
“The government of Venezuela has decided to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the US government, with a view to reestablishing the diplomatic missions in both countries,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement.
A Venezuelan delegation will also be sent to the US to carry out assessments, it said.
Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump said the release of political prisoners in Venezuela was a sign of “seeking peace” and that he had canceled a planned second wave of attacks.
