Key facts
- Two Romanian men were jailed for stabbing Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati in London.
- Prosecutors stated the attack was carried out on behalf of the Iranian government.
- One Romanian man received a 12-year prison sentence.
- The other Romanian man received an 8-year prison sentence.
- Pouria Zeraati is a presenter for Iran International.
- The attack occurred outside Zeraati's west London home.
Two Romanian nationals have been jailed in London for their involvement in the stabbing of Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati. The attack, which prosecutors stated was conducted on behalf of the Iranian government, saw one of the men sentenced to 12 years in prison and the other to 8 years. Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for the Persian-language television station Iran International, was targeted outside his residence in west London. The motive for the attack is believed to be linked to Zeraati's journalistic work, which has been critical of the Iranian regime. The sentencing highlights the ongoing threats faced by journalists critical of authoritarian governments, even when operating abroad. The prosecution successfully argued that the stabbing was a coordinated act carried out by individuals acting under the direction of Iranian state interests. This incident is part of a broader pattern of alleged Iranian state-sponsored aggression against dissidents and journalists outside its borders.