Iran summons UK ambassador over ‘baseless’ assassination claims
Al Mayadeen | July 9, 2026
Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran after London accused the Islamic Republic of involvement in a stabbing attack against an Iran International staffer in the United Kingdom, rejecting the allegations as “groundless and false.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry delivered a protest note to the British envoy, denouncing London’s attempts to make unfounded accusations against Tehran and create a hostile atmosphere toward Iran.
The move came after British authorities summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires in London following the conviction of two Romanian nationals over the 2024 stabbing of Pouria Zeraati, a staffer working for Iran International.
Tehran rejected the British claims that the attack was connected to Iranian state institutions, describing the accusations as politically motivated and without evidence.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the British accusations regarding alleged Iranian security activities in the United Kingdom were unacceptable and lacked credibility. The ministry said London’s statements sought to divert attention from Britain’s own conduct and its policies toward Iran.
The British envoy was summoned to receive Tehran’s formal protest after UK officials alleged that the stabbing incident was carried out on behalf of the Iranian state.
Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected similar accusations from Western governments, saying such claims are part of political pressure campaigns against Tehran.
London accuses Tehran over journalist stabbing case
British authorities summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires after George Stana and Nandito Badea were sentenced to 12 and eight years in prison, respectively, over their role in the 2024 attack on Pouria Zeraati.
Zeraati was stabbed near his home in southwest London in March 2024.
British prosecutors claimed the two Romanian nationals acted as proxies for Iranian authorities. The defendants had denied charges of wounding with intent but were convicted at London’s Woolwich Crown Court.
The British Foreign Office said the judge concluded that the attack was carried out “in the interests of, and on behalf of, the Iranian state.”
Tehran has rejected the accusations, with the Iranian Embassy in London describing them as “unfounded, politically motivated and hostile allegations.”
The diplomatic dispute comes amid broader tensions between Iran and Britain, with London repeatedly accusing Tehran of activities it claims threaten British interests.
British officials said the case followed what they described as a pattern of alleged hostile activity by Iranian intelligence services in the United Kingdom.
Iran has rejected such claims, accusing London of adopting confrontational policies and using allegations against Tehran for political purposes.
The latest diplomatic dispute reflects continued friction between the two countries, which has intensified in recent years over issues including sanctions, regional developments, and competing political narratives.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
