Alireza Akbari, Iran’s former deputy defence minister, speaks during an interview with Khabaronline in Tehran, Iran, in this undated picture obtained on January 12, 2023. Khabaronline/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/Files
British-Iranian dual national Alireza Akbari was hanged by Iran on charges of espionage and corruption, the Iranian judiciary-affiliated Mizan news outlet announced on January 14.
The outlet said that the former Iranian official was executed for crimes including “corruption on earth,” without specifying the date when the execution took place. He was charged with working as a spy for MI6, the British intelligence agency, and reportedly paid more than $2 million in various currencies.
Akbari was considered close to Ali Shamkhani, who appointed him Deputy Minister of Defence when he was Defense Minister between 1997 and 2005. After leaving office, Akbari moved to the United Kingdom where he became a British–Iranian dual national. According to the BBC, he was arrested in 2019 on a visit to Iran.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that he was “appalled by the execution” of Akbari and accused Iran of violating human rights.
“This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people,” the PM said on Twitter. “My thoughts are with Alireza’s friends and family.”
From his side, British Foreign Minister James Cleverly said that Britain had imposed sanctions on Iran’s Prosecutor General. In response, Iran summoned the British ambassador to Tehran, citing Britain’s “unconventional interventions”.
Earlier this week, on January 12, the Iranian state TV aired a video arguing that Akbari played a role in the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, killed in a 2020 attack outside Tehran. Akbari did not confess to being directly involved in the plot, but said a British agent had asked for information about him.
Later, the BBC released a reported recording of Akbari’s telephone call to his family from prison alleging that he was put under pressure, was under the influence of drugs, and that he was made to make a forced confession.
Fakhrizadeh was only one of about 178 Iranian figures Akbari collected information on, according to ran’s Islamic Republic News Agency. He allegedly carried out his intelligence work through the veneer of a private company focused on research and trade activities, working directly with research institutes in London with alleged links to the MI6.
The official news agency reported that Akbari had regular meetings with an MI6 intelligence officer and former British Ambassador to Iran Richard Dalton.
Akbari’s death sentence was announced just days ago, on January 11, after his conviction on spying for the UK. Akbari and his family had denied the charges.
The execution of an individual holding British citizenship will likely further fuel tensions between Tehran and the West. The United States and France have already joined the UK in condemning the execution of Akbari.
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The trial of Akbari, who was detained by intelligence forces on suspicion of espionage for foreign intelligence organizations, was held in the presence of his attorney.
The death sentence was handed down based on “substantiated evidence,” the Judiciary said.
The Iranian Supreme Court had upheld the verdict after he asked for an appeal.
Former deputy defense minister Akbari was identified as “one of the most infiltrating agents of the spying service of the evil UK in the country’s sensitive and strategic centers” and was apprehended following a “long and multi-layered process” involving “counter-intelligence” and “deception operation”, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry said.
According to the ministry, the “key spy” had repeatedly supplied intelligence gathered from sensitive centers to the enemy’s spy agency while being “fully aware” of his deeds.
In the UK embassy in Tehran, where he had gone to pick up a visa, Akbari met with a number of British intelligence agents, according to the statement. He thereafter became a “full-fledged employee” of the MI6 during his personal trips to Europe.
Source Tasnim News.
Concise and well composed thought.
Thus to all treasonous Zion-first puppets from any country.
Good work by IRAN. Time to ban dual citizenship.
The funny thing is that the British helped Ayatollah to be put in power. If you read history.
Chris Gr
You are incorrect here but then you are Turk but calling yourself Greek ie you are a confused person
This is correct actually. Erdogan, Ayatollah and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood were once helped by UK to counter Nasserist and Ba’athist influence, which was supported by the Soviets. This is fact.
Ayatollah Khomeini was exiled in France and made the coup against the Shah in a little French village.
Two weeks before the revolution against the Shah he travelled from Paris to Iran to lead the riots and take over the Presidency. This is the true fact!
Tommy Jensen
Absolutely correct I salute you
Correct, he was supported by UK and France against the pro-American Shah.
Shitskin gayreek with turd brown skin returns to spout off his complete ignorance of geopolitics.
Do another kangaroo court please.
Cuckmander Hebrew
Chris Gr maybe confused but he is entitled to his opinion
Not the British at all really as British people are a good people. Not so much so for those brute people who say they are British but are really brutish as that brute has owned Britain al a vie Cromwell.
You are very correct
Oh no, you can’t kill our spies that we sent to harm your nation. Shut the fuck up already. The West has NO credibility.
Lesson for the day: Why you NEVER trust your Country’s secrets with a “dual national”. Especially if his other home is in London “living it large”!….
Same thing with the “dual nationals” from these two countries that were born out of THIS https://www.911research.wtc7.net/wtc/groundzero/cleanup.html “DEAL” whether they spy for America or spy for China! You would have to have screws loose to allow them back in your Country to carry a government security clearance.
See exhibit A: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-usa-pollard/israel-gives-pollard-its-former-spy-in-u-s-warm-but-low-key-homecoming-idUSKBN29406W
And why America’s betrayal in setting the scumbag free speaks volumes to what inevitably cuts both ways when you no longer protect your National security with dual citizenship!
death to all traitors and spies! no mercy!
Britain, France and US are outraged that their darling was arrested.
He was tried in a court of his peers, found guilty and was sentenced. Not unlike many of course in long years of empire.
Justice would be served one supposes by those who would like and despise empire.
May he rest in peace.
“This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people,” the PM said on Twitter. “My thoughts are with [Assange’s] friends and family.”
Sunak on truth serum?
Rishi the White Wannabe Uber Coconut Cowpiss drinking Monkey Phucker should call out the genocidal racist ziopig regime for their daily executions of unarmed Palestinians for the past 75 year