Iran has sentenced a former deputy defence minister who holds twin Iranian-British citizenship to demise on costs of spying for Britain, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.
Britain described the demise sentence on Alireza Akbari as politically motivated and referred to as for his instant launch.
Mr. Akbari was a detailed ally of Ali Shamkhani, who’s at present the secretary of Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council and served as Defence Minister from 1997 to 2005, when Mr. Akbari was his deputy.
“He was one of the essential brokers of the British intelligence service in Iran who had entry to some very delicate centres within the nation,” Iran’s Intelligence Ministry mentioned. “Akbari had totally knowingly supplied info to the enemy’s spy service.”
British overseas minister James Cleverly referred to as for Mr. Akbari to be freed.
“Iran should halt the execution of British-Iranian nationwide Alireza Akbari and instantly launch him,” Cleverly wrote on Twitter. “This can be a politically motivated act by a barbaric regime that has complete disregard for human life.”
Mr. Akbari, who was arrested in 2019, had been near Mr. Shamkhani for the reason that Iran-Iraq struggle within the Nineteen Eighties.
His demise sentence has been upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court docket, Nournews, an Iranian information company affiliated to the nation’s prime safety company, reported.
“Our precedence is securing his instant launch and now we have reiterated our request for pressing consular entry,” a U.Okay. International Workplace spokesperson mentioned.
Iran, which has been at odds with Western powers together with Britain over what it calls their interference in its inside issues throughout months of anti-government protests, doesn’t acknowledge twin nationality standing.
