LONDON — Britain’s government says it has summoned Iran’s top diplomat in the UK after journalists based in the country were targeted for intimidation by Tehran. On Saturday, Iran International, a Farsi-language TV news channel based in London, said it had moved its broadcasts to Washington to protect its journalists, after British police told it about “serious and immediate threats” to the safety of Iranian journalists. Iran International said “threats had grown to the point that it was felt it was no longer possible to protect the channel’s staff” or the public around its studio in London. The Metropolitan Police said authorities had foiled “15 plots since the start of 2022 to either kidnap or even kill British or UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the regime,” without elaborating. Those sanctioned include three senior judges for imposing death penalties on protesters, and five commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Source: The Times February 21, 2023 05:14 UTC