Iran's Revolutionary Court has sentenced to death an Iranian found guilty of spying for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, Iran's satellite Press TV reported on Monday.
"Ali Ashtari had links with the spy agencies of the Israeli regime," an official with Iran's Intelligence Ministry was quoted as saying.
The unidentified official said Ashtari "transferred sensitive information from Iran's research, military and defense centers, including the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, to Mossad officers."
"Ashtari provided information about certain Iranian figures to Mossad and made efforts to connect experts of these sensitive centers to the Israeli intelligence agency," he said.
The Iranian official said this is an initial verdict and is required to receive final approval from the country's Supreme Court, adding that the defendant has the right to appeal the verdict.
Ali Ashtari, 45, was arrested one year and a half ago. The Revolutionary Court found him guilty of high treason and sentenced him to death.
Iranians convicted of spying usually receive long prison terms, but execution is also possible.
In early 1999, 13 Iranian Jews were imprisoned by Iranian authorities on suspicion of spying for the "Zionist regime" and "world arrogance."
Ten of them were convicted by the Revolutionary Court and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 10 years, but were eventually released in 2002 under international pressure.
Iran has often accused the United States, Israel and Britain of supporting espionage activities in Iran to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article