Iran executes a man convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad |
Iran executed a man whom its courts convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad, state media reported Wednesday.
The execution came as tensions have risen between the two countries, which exchanged renewed threats of violence in recent weeks, roughly six months after fighting a 12-day war. It also happened as protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime took place across Iran.
The official IRNA news agency identified the executed man as Ali Ardestani, and claimed he relayed sensitive information to the Israeli spy agency’s officers in return for financial rewards in the form of cryptocurrencies.
The report said the man confessed to the spying charges, and that he had hoped to receive a million-dollar reward, as well as a British visa. It labeled Ardestani a “special operative force of Israel” and claimed he gave images and footage of “special places” to Mossad agents.
IRNA did not elaborate about the time and place of his detention.
The report said Israel recruited Ardestani online, adding that his case went through........