Iran executes defense ministry staffer as alleged CIA spy Iran has executed a former employee of the defense ministry who was convicted of spying on behalf of the Central Intelligence AgencyTEHRAN, Iran -- Iran has executed a former employee of the defense ministry who was convicted of spying on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency, the country's judiciary said Tuesday. “He was identified, tried and sentenced to death.”Occasionally Iran announces arrests and convictions of alleged spies for foreign countries, including the U.S. and Israel. In June, Iran said another alleged spy, Jalal Hajizavar, was hanged in a prison near Tehran. The report said Hajizavar — also a former staffer of the defense ministry — had admitted in court that he was paid to spy for the CIA. Before that, in 2016, Iran executed a nuclear scientist convicted of spying for the United States.

Source: ABC News July 14, 2020 09:55 UTC