Iran Sentences Ex-Minister With U.K. Nationality To Death Over ‘Spying For Britain’
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Hashim Sheikh
- . January 12, 2023
- . Update: January 12, 2023 6:37 pm
The Islamic Republic of Iran has sentenced the country’s former Deputy Defence Minister with dual Iranian-British citizenship to death on charges of spying for Britain.
The former Deputy Defence Minister, identified by the Iranian Intelligence Ministry as Alireza Akbari, was handed over the death sentence by the country’s judiciary over charges of “espionage on behalf of Britain” and “corruption on earth.”
According to the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry said that the ex-minister collected Iran’s important data and sent them to the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6.
In a statement published by the Mizan news agency, the Iranian authorities said that Akbari was fully employed by the SIS during his personal trips to Europe. The statement described Akbari as one of “the most important” agents of SIS.
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The semi-official Tasnim news agency of Iran reported that Iranian intelligence fed Akbari with false information to know about his real motive. Tasnim said that Akbari shared important information on past nuclear talks between Iran and Western powers with the United Kingdom (UK).
Akbari was deputy defence minister of Iran until 2001. He served as deputy defence minister under former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who adopted various strategies to improve relations with Western countries.
Britain described the death sentence as a politically motivated act. Britain also called for the execution to be stopped, accusing the Iranian regime of disregarding human life. Britain demanded the immediate release of Akbari.
James Cleverly, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK, said, “This is a politically motivated act by a barbaric regime that has total disregard for human life.”
Akbari’s wife, Maryam Akbari, reportedly said that her husband was the victim of Iranian factional power politics. She reportedly said that her husband could be executed within the next 24 hours.
