The Iranian court sentenced Alireza Akbari to death, who served as a senior assistant in the Iranian Ministry of Defense in 1997-2005 under Minister Ali Shamkhani. Akbari was exposed to sensitive intelligence information by virtue of his position, and according to the indictment he passed significant information to British intelligence. In Tehran they claimed, among other things, that the “British spy” was a senior partner in the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fahrizada, whose assassination Israel was accused of at the time.
The Iranian news agency published a video clip, which it says proves that Akbari, who also held British citizenship, played a significant role in the assassination of Fahrizada in 2020.
The official Iranian media published the details about the arrest and about the senior official, as well as the decision of the Supreme Court of Iran which states that he will be executed. “The Supreme Court confirms the death sentence against Alireza Akbari, who was arrested on charges of spying for British intelligence for committing the crime of corruption and other measures against the security of citizens through the transfer of information,” the Iranian Intelligence Ministry said in a statement, where they added: “Alireza Akbari was the most important agent of a service The British spy. He gathered important information about the Iranian state because he had access to sensitive facilities in the country.”
The BBC in Farsi revealed that Akbari, who served as an adviser to the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, helped infiltrate the sensitive institution. The British News Authority quoted Akbari’s wife, Mariam, as saying: “My husband is accused of espionage and sentenced to death. He was transferred to solitary confinement last night and there is a danger that the sentence will be carried out this week.” In an audio tape released after the conviction, Akbari says that he was convicted for providing information to the British, but according to him the one who should stand trial is former minister Simkhani, since he is the one who provided Akbari with the information in exchange for a bottle of perfume and a shirt he gave him as a gift. “If Simkhani thought it was confidential information, why did he give it in exchange for a gift?” Akbari asked in the recording.
In Britain, they demanded that Iran cancel the death sentence imposed on Akbari and release him immediately by virtue of being a British citizen. A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said in a statement: “We support Mr. Akbari’s family and have raised his case repeatedly with the Iranian authorities. We demand his immediate release and have reiterated our request to allow him access to urgent consular advice,” he added.