AL BAWABA (Jordan), IRAN’S VIEW, PRESS TV (Iran), REUTERS, CNN (U.S.)
TEHRAN – Two men convicted for spying for the United States and Israeli spy agencies have been hung, reported Iran’s Press TV. There were no details on when the men were arrested, tried or sentenced, only that they were hung at dawn on Sunday.
Mohammad Heidari was accused of passing information to the Israeli agency Mossad in exchange for money, writes Reuters, and Kourosh Ahmadi for gathering information for the CIA.
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Kourosh Ahmadi. Photo: Screengrab via Iran’s View
“The two executed spies have misused their access to some of important classified information,” read the Intelligence Ministry’s statement. Iran’s View spoke to a source on conditions of anonymity, saying that the men had leaked information about Iran’s nuclear and missile programs in the last ten years.
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Mohammad Heidari. Photo: Screengrab via Iran’s View
Iran takes pride in its ability to shut down foreign intelligence agencies working in the country, reports Al Bawaba. It has previously blamed the assassination of scientists working on nuclear programs on foreign agencies, especially Mossad.
The advocacy group Human Rights Activists News Agency, based in Iran, estimated in 2012 that there have been 488 hangings over the past 12 months, quotes CNN. About 12% of those were public executions, the group said, according to a State Department report.
The U.S. has denied any connection to the men accused, while Israel has yet to comment.
