An announcement from Iran on Saturday confirmed the execution of Aliriza Akbari, an individual described as an Anglo-Iranian national, who faced accusations of espionage. The reported trial was to take place in the presence of his attorney, with the death sentence said to rest on what authorities described as confirmed evidence. Iran’s official news outlet noted that the sentence was imposed on charges of corruption tied to actions perceived as threatening the country’s internal and external security by allegedly spying on behalf of the British intelligence service. The report framed the decision as a verdict reached after a formal judicial process conducted under Iranian law.
Tehran has characterized Akbari as one of MI6’s most significant operatives and a master practitioner of espionage, noting his past role as a deputy defense minister during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, who led Iran from 1997 to 2005. This background is cited to underscore his long involvement in security matters and to connect the espionage allegations to high-level state concerns, reflecting the broader tensions between Iran and Western intelligence agencies that persist in the contemporary geopolitical landscape.
In response to Akbari’s execution, both the United Kingdom and the United States urged Iran to halt the capital punishment and release him, emphasizing calls for clemency and due process. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemned what he described as a politically motivated act by a regime he characterized as dismissive of human life, signaling that London viewed the move within a wider context of diplomatic strain between the nations and concerns about human rights protections in the Iranian judicial system.
Reports from the BBC indicated that authorities were preparing to arrange one final family visitation, while details from Akbari’s wife suggested that he had been moved to solitary confinement and subjected to coercive conditions during detention. Allegations were raised that Akbari had been subjected to drugging and torture techniques aimed at extracting confessions, with subsequent claims of forced admissions obtained under pressure. These assertions highlight ongoing concerns about interrogation practices and the treatment of detainees within Iran’s legal framework, prompting international scrutiny and calls for independent verification of the facts surrounding his case. (citations: Mehr News Agency; BBC coverage; statements from the UK and US governments)