Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

Former Iranian official Alireza Akbari executed on spy charges

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Jan 2023 13:51
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry states that Akbari transferred information obtained from sensitive centers to the UK's spy service on multiple occasions despite being “completely aware” of his steps.

  • x
  • British-Iranian spy Alireza Akbari (Reuters)
    British-Iranian spy Alireza Akbari (Reuters)

Alireza Akbari, a former Iranian official charged for spying for the British intelligence agency, has been executed by hanging on Saturday. 

The Mizan news agency of Iran's Judiciary stated that the former official, whose charges were “corruption on earth” and “extensive activities against the country's internal and external security” through espionage was arrested in 2019 after having received 1,805,000 euros, 265,000 pounds, and $50,000 for his collusion with the UK.

Akbari was the deputy defense minister during the tenure of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who served from 1997 to 2005.

“Akbari collected the important information of the country on strategic issues in the field of domestic and foreign policy, regional, defense, missile, nuclear negotiations, and economic issues related to sanctions and delivered it to British intelligence officers in a fully informed and targeted manner," Mizan stated.

“On this basis and after filing an indictment against the accused, the file was referred to court, and hearings were held in the presence of the accused’s lawyer and based on the valid documents in the person’s file, he was sentenced to death for spying for the UK."

The death sentence was upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court after Akbari requested an appeal, which was sent through by British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly after reports of the planned execution emerged. Cleverly posted in a tweet: "Iran must halt the execution of British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari and immediately release him.”

Related News

Iranian intelligence reveal details regarding UK recruitment of Akbari

Kanaani slams UK over double-standards on death penalty

Iran must halt the execution of British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari and immediately release him.

This is a politically motivated act by a barbaric regime that has total disregard for human life.

— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) January 11, 2023

Not the first spy, not the last 

On Wednesday, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry described the former deputy defense minister in a statement as “one of the most infiltrating agents of the spying service of the evil UK in the country’s sensitive and strategic centers,” The statement underlined that he was identified and arrested following a “long and multi-layered process” involving “counter-intelligence” and “deception operation.”

According to the ministry, Akbari transferred information obtained from sensitive centers to the UK's spy service on multiple occasions despite being “completely aware” of his steps.

Tehran clarified that the former senior official was first recruited upon his reception of a visa at the UK embassy in Tehran, where he had talks with British intelligence agents. After this "conversation", during personal trips to Europe, Akbari became a "full member of the UK intelligence service."

Mizan confirmed that Akbari confessed about ties to Britain, adding that he was also interrogated by the UK intelligence agency regarding Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated in November 2020. 

UK-sent spies go way back to the 1953 coup against the democratically-elected government of Mohammad Mosaddeq, and Akbari is not the first spy that Iran has caught and arrested.

It was recently also found that the UK government also played an active role in instigating and fueling the riots in Iran.

  • Alireza Akbari
  • Britain
  • UK
  • spy
  • Intel
  • Iran
  • MI6

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS