Two Romanian men have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for attacking an Iranian journalist in what a judge ruled was an operation carried out for the benefit of the Iranian government.
The men, 25-year-old George Stana and 21-year-old Nandito Badea, were convicted of intentionally causing serious injury after stabbing journalist Pouria Zeraati near his home in Wimbledon, London, in March 2024.
A London court sentenced Stana to 12 years in prison and Badea to eight years after finding them guilty of the attack. The victim, who works for the Persian-language broadcaster Iran International, sustained multiple stab wounds to his leg and required hospital treatment.
According to evidence presented during the trial, the attackers confronted Zeraati as he walked to his vehicle. One of the men reportedly approached him under the pretext of asking for money before the pair assaulted him. They fled the scene in a waiting vehicle and later left the UK for Switzerland.
Investigators identified a third suspect, David Andrei, as being involved in the assault. Authorities said he remains in Romania, while Stana and Badea were extradited to Britain to face trial.
The judge said the evidence showed the journalist had been deliberately targeted rather than attacked at random. She also concluded that the assault was carried out on behalf of, or for the benefit of, a foreign state. While the court found Stana knew or should have known of that connection, it said there was insufficient proof that Badea had the same level of knowledge.
British officials condemned the attack, describing it as an attempt to intimidate a journalist on UK soil. They said the sentences demonstrate that those involved in politically motivated violence will be held accountable.
In a statement presented to the court, Zeraati said the incident had left him living in fear. He explained that he had changed his residence several times and remained anxious about being followed whenever he went out in public.
Iran International also described the attack as deeply disturbing, saying its journalists have faced persistent threats linked to the Iranian authorities, both inside Iran and abroad.
Lawyers representing the two convicted men argued that their clients were unaware they were acting on behalf of Iran. However, the court ruled that the evidence supported the prosecution’s case regarding the nature of the attack and imposed lengthy prison terms.
