Iran Claims British-Iranian Facing Execution had Links to Scientist killing

Iranian state media published a video on Thursday that they said showed British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari, who is facing the death penalty for spying, played a role in the 2020 assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist.

The video was aired a day after state media said “a death sentence had been handed down to Akbari, who previously served as Iran’s deputy defense minister, on charges of spying for Britain, which has demanded he be released.”

Iran has not said when Akbari’s sentence will be carried out. One hardline news website said Akbari had been executed on Thursday but there has been no official confirmation. A source says he had been transferred to a solitary cell typically used for those about to executed. Reports said.

In the video of Akbari published by state media, he did not confess to involvement in the assassination of scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, killed in a 2020 attack outside Tehran, but said a British agent had asked for information about him.

In a separate recording broadcast on Wednesday, Akbari said “he had confessed to crimes he had not committed after extensive torture.” Reports said.

Britain’s foreign office declined to comment on the videos. Speaking in parliament on Thursday afternoon about the Akbari case, British foreign office minister Leo Docherty said: “We have no news today and it would be wrong of me to speculate about any future activities.”

Planned Execution
On Wednesday, British foreign minister James Cleverly said “the planned execution was politically motivated and called for his immediate release.” The foreign office also said on Wednesday its priority was securing his immediate release.

“Akbari was transferred to the isolation section of the prison on Tuesday night and his first-degree relatives had been asked yesterday to have the final visit with him,” the source in Tehran told Reuters.

Akbari’s wife also said authorities had told the family to make a last visit to see him in prison on Wednesday. Reports said.

Reuters /Shakirat Sadiq