The US demands that Iran immediately release an alleged spy who worked for the British MI6

14 Jan. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United States Department of State has demanded this Friday the “immediate” release of the Iranian-British citizen Alireza Akbari, sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of Iran after being accused of espionage and working for MI6, the Kingdom’s Intelligence service United.

The deputy state spokesman, Vedant Patel, has indicated that “the United States echoes the firm call of the British government so that Iran does not proceed with this execution and immediately release Akbari.”

“The charges brought against Alireza Akbari and his execution sentence are for political reasons. His execution is inconceivable,” Patel said at a press conference.

Likewise, the deputy spokesman has been “extremely concerned” by reports that Akbari has been drugged and tortured during his detention, as well as “interrogated for thousands of hours and forced to make false concessions.”

“More generally, Iran’s practices of arbitrary and unjust arrests, forced confessions, and politically motivated executions are completely unacceptable and must end.”

On the other hand, Patel has assured that the United States has at its disposal “tools to hold the Iranian regime accountable.” “We have taken measures at various periods in recent months, whether they are sanctions, whether they are designations of entities and individuals, and we have done so in close coordination with our allies and partners,” he remarked.

Iran’s Supreme Court sentenced Akbari to death for allegedly knowingly providing important information about the country to British Intelligence. The Supreme Court ruling is final and occurs at a time when the person sentenced to death was waiting to receive a UK visa to leave the country.

Considered by Tehran as one of the “most important agents” of MI6 and a true “master of espionage”, Akbari was deputy defense minister during the tenure of former Iranian President Mohammad Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005).

After learning of the sentence, the British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, urged Iran on Wednesday not only to stop the execution of Akbari, but also to release him, stressing his British citizenship.

Akbari joins a long list of Iranian citizens with dual nationality who have been accused and sentenced to death for alleged espionage crimes for foreign intelligence agencies, the CIA or the Mossad.