Alireza Akbari: Iran preparing to execute British citizen - family - BBC

The household of a British-Iranian dual nationalist sentenced to decease successful Iran person told BBC Persian that authorities are preparing to execute him.

Alireza Akbari's wife, Maryam, said an authoritative had asked her to travel to his situation successful Tehran for a "final meeting".

He has besides been transferred to solitary confinement, which is seen arsenic a motion that an execution is imminent.

The ex-deputy Iranian defence curate was arrested successful 2019 and convicted of spying for the UK, which helium denied.

BBC Persian besides obtained an audio connection from Mr Akbari successful which helium says helium was tortured and forced to confess connected camera to crimes helium did not commit.

He says that helium was surviving overseas a fewer years agone erstwhile helium was invited to sojourn Iran astatine the petition of a apical Iranian diplomat who was progressive successful atomic talks with satellite powers.

Once there, helium adds, helium was accused of obtaining apical concealed quality from the caput of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, "in speech for a vessel of perfume and a shirt".

Mr Akbari served nether Mr Shamkhani erstwhile the second was defence curate during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, a reformist who was successful bureau for 2 presumption betwixt 1997 and 2005.

Hours aft the audio connection was broadcast connected BBC Persian connected Wednesday, the Iranian judiciary's Mizan quality bureau confirmed for the archetypal clip that Mr Akbari had been recovered blameworthy of espionage, and that the Supreme Court had rejected his appeal.

It cited Iran's quality ministry arsenic saying that Mr Akbari had been "one of the astir important infiltrators of the country's delicate and strategical centres" for the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, amended known arsenic MI6, and that helium had been "compiling and consciously transferring delicate information".

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office told the BBC: "We are supporting the household of Mr Akbari and person repeatedly raised his lawsuit with the Iranian authorities.

"Our precedence is securing his contiguous merchandise and we person reiterated our petition for urgent consular access."

Iran is 2nd lone to China successful the fig of executions carried retired annually.

At the extremity of November, authorities media reported that authorities had hanged 4 Iranian men convicted of "co-operating" with Israeli intelligence.

Another 4 men person been hanged since December aft being sentenced to decease successful transportation with the anti-government protests engulfing the country.