A former Iranian deputy defense minister has been sentenced to death for allegedly spying on the terrorist regime for England.
Alireza Akbari, who has dual Iranian and British citizenship, was arrested in 2019 or 2020 and convicted of working with Britain’s legendary MI6. Iran’s Supreme Court reviewed the case and denied his appeal, according to Tasnim News Agency, a Tehran-controlled source with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“Alireza Akbari was one of the most important agents of the British spy service who collected the important information of the country and provided it to this service in a fully informed and targeted manner,” Iran’s Ministry of Information said in a statement.
Iran claims Akbari was reported by anonymous “soldiers” and was arrested after “technical and deception operations.”
This is an interesting angle: apparently #Iran's former deputy defense minister Alireza Akbari who is in danger of being executed holds British citizenship. Unclear when he received British citizenship–before or after tenure at MODAFL.https://t.co/s9mlv15nUy
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) January 11, 2023
The news service said Akbari had access to sensitive information and technology and had given information to his alleged British handlers on “many” occasions.
Iranian authorities claim MI6 recruited Akbari while he was seeking a visa at the British embassy in Tehran. They claim they fed him false information, which he transmitted to his handlers.
“Although the evil enemy of England was able to take advantage of this person’s weaknesses and recruit him, he certainly does not know which part of the received information is of the type of guided information and deception have been,” the Iranian ministry said.
Akbari’s wife, Maryam, told the BBC an official had asked her to come to the Tehran prison where he is being held in solitary confinement for a “final meeting.”
The BBC obtained an audio message in which Akbari describes being tortured and forced to confess on camera to crimes that he did not commit.
A spokesperson for the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told the BBC it is still working to win Akbari’s release.
“We are supporting the family of Mr. Akbari and have repeatedly raised his case with the Iranian authorities,” the spokesperson said. “Our priority is securing his immediate release and we have reiterated our request for urgent consular access.”