Iranian Journalist Stabbed in London

An Iranian journalist with a London-based, Farsi-language TV news channel was attacked outside his house Friday, the network reported. 

Pouria Zeraati, the television host of the "Last Word" program of Iran International channel, was assaulted by a group of unidentified individuals as he left his London home. 

Zeraati sustained knife wounds across several parts of his body. 

He is currently in a stable condition but remains hospitalized, the network reported. 

The Metropolitan Police in London has launched an investigation into the attack.

While the motive remains unclear, the reported attack comes just a few months after the revelation of a plot by the Islamic Republic to assassinate two other Iran International journalists.

In November 2022, London Police protected Iran International’s offices after having received intelligence of real threats against two of the channel's journalists in London.

In early 2023, the network was forced to temporarily cease operations in London and relocate its broadcasting studios to Washington.

Operations resumed at a new London location in September of that year.

Iranian Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib said in an interview with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s website in late 2022 that those who work with Iran International TV would be “pursued” by his ministry.

"From now on, any kind of connection with this terrorist organization will be considered to be tantamount to entering the field of terrorism and a threat to national security," he said. 

Volant Media, Iran International’s broadcaster, said in a statement at the time that two British-Iranian journalists working in Britain had received "death threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG)."

It described the threats as a "dangerous escalation" of attempts by the Islamic Republic to silence media in the face of nationwide protests.