Friday, June 5, 2026- In a high-profile trial in London, two Romanian nationals have been convicted for stabbing Iranian-British journalist Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for Persian-language broadcaster Iran International.
The attack occurred in March 2024 outside Zeraati’s home in Wimbledon, where he was knifed three times in the leg and later hospitalised before making a full recovery.
At Woolwich Crown Court, jurors on Friday found Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, delivering a decisive verdict after prosecutors presented evidence of a planned assault involving reconnaissance and coordination.
UK authorities say the stabbing was more than a random act of violence — it was part of a targeted campaign to intimidate journalists critical of the Iranian government. Prosecutors argued that the assailants had been part of a network acting on behalf of Iranian interests, though the jury’s verdict focused on their direct actions rather than formally assigning state responsibility.
Investigators highlighted how the attackers surveilled Zeraati’s neighbourhood for weeks before the assault and fled the UK shortly after, fleeing through Switzerland before being arrested in Romania and extradited back to Britain.
The case has reverberated beyond Britain’s courts, raising urgent concerns among free-press advocates and Western security officials about foreign proxy violence targeting dissident media figures abroad.
Zeraati’s employer, Iran International, has repeatedly faced threats and intimidation linked to its critical reporting on Tehran, prompting calls for stronger protections for journalists in exile.
Sentencing for the two convicted men is scheduled at the Old Bailey on July 3, where the judge will determine penalties that could send a strong message about the seriousness of politically motivated violence on UK soil.
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