On 14 January 2023, Iranian news agency, Mizan reported that Iran executed British-Iranian national, Alireza Akbari, after sentencing him to death on account of espionage for Britain.
Alireza Akbari was the ex-deputy Iranian defence minister. He was arrested for charges of espionage for the UK in 2019, which was denied by him. The Mizan news agency reported on his execution on Saturday without specifications on the date of his death.
The comes merely a week after Iran posted a video of what seemed like a forced confession for the crime from Akbari. On Wednesday, BBC Persian posted an audio message of Akbari in which he stated he had been tortured and forced to confess.
Britain's Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, on Friday said Iran must not follow through with the execution of Akbari. Britain has described the death sentence as politically motivated and called for his immediate release.
After news of the execution, the UK has actively condemned Iran's decision. The US has also condemned the execution, labeling it as "politically charged."
James Cleverly said the execution would "not stand unchallenged."
UK's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on Twitter called the execution "callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime." He also said that Iran's rulers had "no respect for the human rights of their own people."
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