Iran International TV has been forced to relocate its headquarters from West London to Washington DC in the United States following a Police warning of “imminent and credible threats to the lives of their journalists”.
The broadcaster, established in opposition to the Iranian authorities, said it had “reluctantly closed” its London operations after it was felt that threats against it had grown to the point where it could no longer protect its staff or the general public at its facility on the Chiswick Business Park.
Neighbours on the estate include Paramount Global, Ericsson, United International Pictures, Singapore Airlines and Danone.
Staff were first warned of the threat last November, but concerns were heightened last weekend after a 30-year-old Austrian national was caught filming security arrangements on the site. He has since been charged with terrorism offences.
In a statement Mahmood Enayat, general manager, Iran International TV said: “I cannot believe it has come to this. A foreign state has caused such a significant threat to the British public on British soil that we have to move.
“Let’s be clear, this is not just a threat to our TV station, but [to] the British public at large. This is an assault on the values of sovereignty and free speech that the UK has always held dear.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Media freedom is a vital part of our society and journalists must be able to investigate and report independently without fear.
“We will not tolerate any threat to media organisations or journalists. We know the Iranian regime has established a pattern of this type of behaviour which is completely unacceptable, yet sadly typical of the regime and its lack of respect for basic rights.
The station will continue to operate out of Washington DC.
