A journalist told to leave her UK home for her own safety has called on the British government to carry out a “forceful response” against Tehran after an Iranian reporter was stabbed in London.
British-Iranian journalist Sima Sabet has spoken after Iran International presenter Pouria Zeraati was stabbed in the leg by three unknown assailants as he approached his car in Wimbledon, southwest London, on 29 March.
Ms Sabet, who also worked for the Persian-language television news channel headquartered in London, has revealed the Metropolitan Police instructed her to leave her UK home following the attack.
She blames the attack on Mr Zeraati on the Iranian government and says it is not the first she has been told she is in danger.
Ms Sabet reported on the civil unrest in the Middle Eastern country in 2022, and said she shared posts on social media about how Iran was violently suppressing protests and killing demonstrators.
Speaking to Sky News from an unknown location, she continued: “I was informed in December 2023 that I was inches away from being killed.
“There was a plot on my life.
“I knew that I was in danger but I didn’t know the extent of the assassination plot, which I learned about just a few months ago.”
Pouria Zeraati shares a photo of himself from his hospital bed after being stabbed. Pic: X / @pouriazeraati
Asked how she feels about the fact she might be in danger again, she continued: “It is not safe for me to stay at home, which is a pity because I am a UK journalist. I live here, I am British and I have to feel safe at my home.
“Of course, the Islamic Republic of Iran doesn’t want the news about what they’re doing inside the country to be disseminated in the outside world, but by no means do they have the right to threaten me at home.”
Ms Sabet also said the UK government should be doing more to support Iranian or British-Iranian journalists like herself living in this country as she claimed Tehran may have “sent agents” to London to target Mr Zeraati.
She continued: “I think it would be really, really useful to have a clear strategy on how to deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“How come a foreign state can come into the UK and send agents?
“People who can come into this country, stab a journalist and then leave the country from the airport.
“This is a direct violation of our sovereignty.
“This needs a forceful response.”
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Pouria Zeraati. Pic: Iran International
Ms Sabet also said there is a “trajectory” of news professionals being jailed, abducted and killed in Iran, saying hundreds of journalists are in prison in the country as a result of their reporting on the 2022 unrest.
Meanwhile, Mr Zeraati appeared on Iran International on Friday for the first time since he was stabbed.
In a video teasing his first appearance on Iran International since he was attacked, he jokingly called his stint in hospital a “slight delay” and was applauded by others in the studio.
Police said no arrests have yet been made, but are confident the suspects “do not present a risk to communities of London or the UK”.
They believe the trio fled the country from Heathrow Airport shortly after the attack.
Sky News has contacted the Iranian embassy for comment.
