Alleged Iran International Plotters Sanctioned

Pair accused of co-ordinating plot to kill journalists in Chiswick

Sima Sabet and Fardad Farahzad the 'bride and groom' allegedly targeted in the 'Wedding Plot'

January 30, 2024

Two men who were accused of masterminding a plan to kill journalists working at Chiswick Business Park have been named on a list of individuals sanctioned by the UK and US.

The two governments made an announcement this Monday (29 January) about seven Iranian officials they believe are responsible for threats to kill on UK soil and or belong to criminal gangs who do the regime’s bidding overseas.

The list includes Mohammed Ansari, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Qods Force official and Muhammed Abd al-Razek Kanafani. Both men were named in ITV News report for co-ordinating the threat to Iran International employees working at the local office development.

The investigation by ITV News' Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo included video recordings and text messages between the pair which were exchanged as the plot developed in autumn of 2022. He had spoken to a people smuggler named as ‘Ismail’ who said he had been offered large sums of money by a member of the IRGC to kill people working for the Saudi-funded TV station. He had worked with the IRGC in the past helping them transport people using his contacts in the shipping industry.

The intended victims of the so-called ‘Wedding Plot’ were Fardad Farahzad, who presented a nightly show on Iran International TV and Sima Sabet, who has a PHD in political science, and previously presented a talk show at 9pm on Iran International.

The ITV report says that when the IRGC contacted ‘Ismail’, he had already started working for an unnamed western intelligence agency which it is claimed has verified his version of events.

He said that it was Kanafani, who has close ties to Syrian dictator President Bashar al-Assad, who initially gave him his orders. Kanafani is believed to be a member of Unit 840, a secretive group within the IRGC which is understood to co-ordinate assassination and kidnappings of Iranian dissidents and critics of the regime overseas. Kanafani told Ismail that he was acting for the Iranians despite being based in Syria.

It was claimed that Kanafani was working for Mohammed Reza Ansari, a commander within the IRGC, who is believed to be a senior member of Unit 840. Recordings of conversations between Kanafani and Ansari show them talking about ‘the wedding’ in an attempt to disguise their intentions.

Originally, the plan was to drive a car bomb into Chiswick Business Park and park it near Building 11 where Iran International used to be based but security measures had already been put in place which made this impractical.

It was then decided to try and kill the two targets outside their homes using knives.

‘Ismail’ had relayed these plans back to his handlers which allowed the security services to give advice to Iran International employees on measures they could take to assure their safety.

The Foreign Office says that the Chiswick plot was just the latest attempt by the Iranian regime to intimidate or kill British nationals or UK-linked individuals, with at least 15 such threats taking place since January 2022. The Foreign Secretary summoned the Iranian Charge d’Affaires on 22 December, to make clear that threats from the Iranian regime will not be tolerated.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said, “The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the UK’s security.

“Today’s package exposes the roles of the Iranian officials and gangs involved in activity aimed to undermine, silence and disrupt the democratic freedoms we value in the UK.”

Home Secretary James Cleverly said, “The Iranian regime has tried to undermine our democracy through repression – we will continue to take action when necessary to protect our country, values and freedom of speech.

“We cannot allow foreign regimes to collaborate with criminals to threaten us. Sanctioning these criminal networks working for the Iranian regime will remind them that we will fight back.

“My priority is to protect our people and to defend our way of life, and the UK will not tolerate threats from the Iranian regime.”

The seven people named on the list are subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban.

To date, the UK has more than 400 sanctions designations in place on Iranian individuals and entities in response to the regime’s human rights violations, nuclear weapons programme and malign influence internationally.