Friday, June 3, 2026- Two Romanian men have been jailed for their roles in the stabbing of Iranian TV presenter Pouria Zeraati in London, in a case that authorities say was carried out on behalf of the Iranian state.
The attack took place in March 2024 outside Zeraati’s home in Wimbledon, where he was stabbed multiple times before the assailants fled the scene. The court heard the assault was premeditated and linked to a broader pattern of transnational targeting of dissident journalists.
The two attackers, identified as Nandito Badea and George Stana, received prison sentences of eight and twelve years respectively after being found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Prosecutors said the pair were part of a coordinated operation involving surveillance of the journalist before the attack, with the judge concluding the evidence strongly indicated the stabbing was carried out “on behalf of the Iranian state.”
The case has intensified concerns in the UK about foreign-linked intimidation campaigns targeting journalists and dissidents. Security officials say the attack is part of a wider pattern of hostile-state activity using criminal proxies to carry out violence abroad.
Authorities have reiterated that protecting press freedom and countering transnational repression remain top priorities as investigations into related networks continue.
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