Two men have been sentenced to prison for carrying out a knife attack on an Iranian journalist in London, in an incident linked to his criticism of the Iranian government. Pouria Zeraati, a 37-year-old reporter for Iran International, was stabbed three times in the leg in Wimbledon, southwest London, in 2024 while on his way to work. Iranian authorities reportedly want Zeraati “dead or alive.”

The attackers, Romanians Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, were found guilty last month of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A third suspect, David Andrei, is currently in Romania facing legal proceedings. Prosecutors stated that all three men traveled to the United Kingdom specifically to carry out the assault.

During the sentencing hearing held at the Old Bailey, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb noted that the available evidence indicated the attack was orchestrated to serve the interests of the Iranian regime. Stana received a 12-year prison sentence, while Badea was sentenced to eight years.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about threats faced by journalists critical of the Iranian government, extending beyond Iran’s borders. Authorities have emphasized the transnational nature of the attack and the involvement of foreign nationals acting on behalf of the Iranian state. The third suspect’s pending case in Romania remains ongoing.