A UK-based journalist for an independent Iranian media outlet was attacked outside his home in London, prompting an investigation by counter-terrorism police, and his news channel said on Saturday that “the situation is very good”.
Adam Baillie, a spokesman for the Persian-language Iran International channel, said the channel’s host Pouria Zeraati was in stable condition.
“He’s actually doing well. He’s in hospital recovering from the attack,” Bailey told BBC radio, calling Friday’s attack “a shocking, appalling incident whatever the outcome of the investigation.” “
London’s Metropolitan Police said its counter-terrorism unit was investigating the stabbing given Iran’s previous hostile threats against opponents in the UK.
Police said the motive was unclear and officers were keeping an “open mind” but were considering “the victim was a journalist for a Persian-language media outlet in the UK”.
Iran’s charge d’affaires in Britain, Mehdi Hosseini Mateen, said on Saturday that Tehran “denies” any links to the incident.
Zelati, who is in his 30s, suffered leg injuries in the attack at around 3pm outside her home in Wimbledon, south-west London.
Iran International announced the incident on social media, noting that it followed Tehran’s alleged plot to murder two television anchors in 2022.
Bailey said the channel’s journalists, their families and others have been repeatedly attacked and threatened by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“In the last 18 months since the IRGC said ‘we are coming to get you’, Iranian international organizations, along with colleagues from BBC Farsi, have been under threats, very serious threats,” he added.
Bailey said paramilitary security forces “contact through proxies” and their tactics include taking away relatives in Iran for questioning and threats.
“The scale has increased dramatically over the past few months. And the scale and type of questioning has become more aggressive,” he added.
The Met foiled an alleged plot in the UK to kidnap or even kill Britons or individuals living in the UK who were considered enemies of Tehran.
In December, an Austrian national was convicted of espionage for a group that may have been preparing an international attack on Iran.
The Iranian government declared the outlet a terrorist organization after its coverage of the protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahesa Amini.
She died in 2022 after being arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.
The British government last year imposed a tougher sanctions regime on Iran over alleged human rights abuses and hostile actions against Iran’s opponents on British soil.
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