Three Iranian men appeared in a London court Saturday charged with spying for Iran's intelligence services, as the UK interior ministry said they had arrived "by irregular means including small boats".

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowed to boost national security powers following the charges, which come amid heightened concerns about Iranian activities on UK soil.

In October, the head of Britain's MI5 domestic intelligence service revealed that since 2022 the UK had uncovered 20 Iran-backed plots posing "potentially lethal threats".

"Iran must be held to account for its actions," Cooper said.

The UK needed to "strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil", she added.

The three men were all remanded in custody following a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court........

© Al Monitor