Ex Defence Minister of Iran sentenced by Court for spying executed, UK recalls envoy in protest
He was found guilty of spying for the UK, as well as of corruption
The Iranian justice executed a death sentence against Alireza Akbari, formed advisor to Ali Shamkhani, who served as the Defence Minister of Iran between 1997 and 2005, IRNA reported Saturday citing judicial authorities.
According to the report, the former Minister who had double citizenship – an Iranian and a British one – was found guilty of spying for the UK, as well as of corruption. Meanwhile, Akbari had denied all charges and insisted that they were unfounded.
Earlier, BBC Persian claimed that the ex-official was detained about 10 months ago and was subjected to torture in detention. On Wednesday, the UK had called on Iran to reject execution of Akbari.
The UK in protest has recalled the British ambassador to Tehran for consultations after the execution of Alireza Akbari, who had dual Iranian-British citizenship, in Iran, UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday, warning about further action against Tehran.
“We’re holding the regime to account. The UK has today: sanctioned the Iranian Prosecutor General [Mohammad Jafar Montazeri]; summoned the Charge d’Affaires [of Iran to the UK]; temporarily recalled the UK Ambassador for consultation,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Our response to Iran is not limited to today. We are reviewing further action”, – Cleverly added.
