UK-based Iranian TV station is forced to move to US on Met Police advice as staff are targeted by Tehran and face ‘serious’ threats to their safety

• An Iranian TV channel has relocated from the UK to the US over security fears 
• The Metropolitan Police warned the channel its staff faced ‘serious’ threats 

A UK-based Iranian broadcaster has said it has been forced to move to the US over threats from Tehran and fears for the safety its journalists.

The relocation of Iran International TV to Washington DC follows warnings from the Metropolitan Police that there remain ‘serious’ and ‘grave’ concerns about ‘hostile intentions of foreign states’.

The channel said on Saturday that it had ‘reluctantly’ closed its west London studios in Chiswick but its staff ‘refuse to be silenced by these cowardly threats’.

It comes after a man was arrested on Monday in the same area and charged with terrorism offences related to the surveillance of the company’s headquarters.

Mahmood Enayat, general manager of Iran International TV, said in a statement: ‘I cannot believe it has come to this.

Police guard the offices of Iran International TV in London in November of fears for the safety of its staff

The channel has now relocated from the UK to the US over security threats to its journalists

‘A foreign state has caused such a significant threat to the British public on British soil that we have to move.

‘Let’s be clear, this is not just a threat to our TV station but the British public at large.

‘Even more this is an assault on the values of sovereignty, security and free speech that the UK has always held dear.

‘Day and night our journalists strive to deliver the 85 million people of Iran and its diaspora the independent, uncensored news they deserve.

‘We refuse to be silenced by these cowardly threats. We will continue to broadcast. We are undeterred.’

The Met said police and MI5 have foiled 15 plots since the start of 2022 to either kidnap or kill UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the Iranian regime.

The force ramped up security measures focused on the area surrounding the studios of the Persian-language broadcaster, which included an overt armed policing presence in the vicinity.

But despite these efforts, there are ongoing concerns about the ability to protect its staff.

Head of counter-terrorism policing (CTP), assistant commissioner Matt Jukes said in a statement: ‘In light of the ongoing investigation that follows the arrest of a man last weekend in that area, and despite extraordinary security measures, we still have serious concerns for the safety of people working at this company.

The Metropolitan Police warned the journalist threats from hostile foreign actors. Pictured: Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 

‘This has led to us giving further advice and the company is now relocating.

‘We would like to thank the company for their ongoing understanding with this as we continue to support them.’

He added: ‘We also appreciate that talking to a media company about moving their operations from a particular location, even though it is due to grave safety concerns, is exceptional.

‘The advice to relocate has not been given lightly.

‘The situation that journalists face around the world and the fact that some journalists face such hostile intentions of foreign states whilst in the UK is a challenging reality that we are determined to confront.’

The Government responded to the broadcaster’s move by condemning the ‘lack of respect for basic rights’ demonstrated by the Iranian regime.

A spokesperson said: ‘Media freedom is a vital part of our society and journalists must be able to investigate and report independently without fear.

‘We will not tolerate any threat to media organisations or journalists. We know the Iranian regime has established a pattern of this type of behaviour which is completely unacceptable, yet sadly typical of the regime and its lack of respect for basic rights.

‘The police are continuing to work in response to this threat.

‘We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to protect individuals in the UK against any threats from the Iranian state.’

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