Iran to execute man for spying for US’ CIA

Iranian judiciary yesterday sentenced a citizen named Amir Rahimpour to death for “spying for the US’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and attempting to pass on information about Tehran’s nuclear program.”

“Amir Rahimpour who was a CIA spy and got big pay and tried to present part of Iran’s nuclear information to the American service had been tried and sentenced to death,” semi-official Fars News Agency quoted the Iranian judiciary spokesperson, Gholamhossein Esmaili, as saying. He pointed out that the sentence was upheld by the country’s Supreme Court.

“Rahimpour will see the consequences of his action soon,” Esmaili added

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The official noted that another two people – who were reported to have been working for a charity – were sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying and five years in prison for acting against national security on similar charges. Esmaili did not provide any additional information about the nationality of the convicted individuals.

The CIA did not immediately comment on Esmaili’s remarks.

Last year, Iran announced it had broken up a CIA spy ring of 17 individuals, noting that some had been sentenced to death. Trump later said on Twitter that the Iranian claim was “false,” describing it as a “zero truth.”

Tensions have escalated between Tehran and Washington since the US killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad on 3 January, a move that has prompted Iran to retaliate with a missile strike against an American base in Iraq.