Ex-soldier drew up list of SAS personnel for Iran, trial hears

A former British soldier accused of spying stole UK military secrets for Iran and drew up a list of personnel from the SAS and other special forces, his trial has been told.

- Ben Quinn

Daniel Khalife, 23, whose role as a member of the British army's communications wing gave him access to highly sensitive information, also offered to work as an agent for the Islamic Republic for 25 years in messages to Iranian intelligence handlers.

One of those handlers, who used the name David Smith, told Khalife that he would be paid what he wanted and said at one point: "We look forward to seeing you in Tehran ... pal.”

Khalife - who is also accused of escaping from Wandsworth prison last year by strapping himself to a food lorry - is alleged to have been paid in cash by the Iranians for secret information gathered in the army.

On the second day of the trial at Woolwich crown court, the prosecution said Khalife had taken a photo of a list of 15 soldiers. He took details from an internal spreadsheet of promotions in June 2021, sent to a WhatsApp group used by soldiers, and used an internal HR system to try to find out the first names of troops.