An Iranian journalist was stabbed outside his London home in what has been described as a targeted operation.

Pouria Zeraati, who works for the Persian-language broadcaster Iran International, was attacked in Wimbledon, south-west London, in March 2024.

The attack is believed to have been ordered by the Iranian regime and carried out by hired criminals acting as proxies, according to the prosecution.

Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting at Woolwich Crown Court, said: “A planned attack preceded by reconnaissance and which was ordered by a third party acting on behalf of the Iranian state.”

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“This was no robbery, no fight that got out of control, it was deliberate, planned violence to achieve what it did, serious injury to its target.

Romanian nationals Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, have denied charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding.

A third man, David Andrei, is alleged to have been part of the attack but is not on trial.

Mr Atkinson told the court that Mr Zeraati was stabbed three times in the leg while heading to his car.

One of the attackers grabbed him and held him firmly while the other carried out the stabbing.

The assailants fled in a waiting car, which was later abandoned along with some of their clothing.

The prosecution argues the men were acting on behalf of individuals linked to the Iranian regime.

Mr Atkinson described Mr Zeraati as “an obvious and readily identifiable target” due to his high-profile work with Iran International, a broadcaster critical of the Islamic Republic.

The court heard that Iran International was forced to temporarily relocate from Chiswick to Washington DC

This followed threats against its staff.

Mr Zeraati’s photo appeared on a “Wanted: dead or alive” poster in Tehran in November 2022.

Following the attack, the suspects are believed to have travelled to Heathrow and fled the country.

Mr Atkinson said: “Once they had done what they had gone to Wimbledon to do, they made good their escape.”

The court is expected to hear evidence about the Islamic Republic’s history of targeting dissidents abroad.

A prosecution expert is expected to testify that Iran has increasingly relied on criminal gangs to carry out such attacks.