A London court began the trial of two Romanian nationals on Monday, May 18, 2026, regarding a stabbing attack on journalist Pouria Zeraati [1], [3].
The proceedings highlight the risks faced by exiled journalists and the alleged use of foreign proxies by the Iranian government to target dissidents on European soil.
Prosecutors said the two men [1] acted as proxies for the Iranian government. The attack is described as part of a broader campaign by Tehran to silence critics and journalists working for Iran International [1], [2].
The incident occurred in 2024 [3] outside the home of Zeraati in the Wimbledon area of London [1], [4]. Zeraati is a prominent presenter for the news network, which operates in exile to provide coverage of Iranian affairs without state censorship.
Court officials said the trial focuses on whether the defendants were recruited and directed by Iranian intelligence to carry out the targeted assault [1], [2]. The use of Romanian nationals as operatives suggests a strategy to mask the origin of the attack and complicate diplomatic attribution, a tactic often associated with transnational repression.
While the defense has not yet presented its full case, the prosecution intends to prove that the stabbing was not a random act of violence but a coordinated effort to intimidate the presenter [1], [4].
“The attack is described as part of a broader campaign by Tehran to silence critics.”
This trial underscores the growing phenomenon of transnational repression, where states target individuals across international borders to stifle dissent. By allegedly utilizing third-country nationals to carry out attacks in the UK, the Iranian government seeks to minimize direct diplomatic fallout while maintaining a climate of fear among the exiled diaspora.
