Iran has executed a nuclear scientist convicted of handing over "confidential and vital" information to the United States, a judicial spokesman said today. Conflicting accounts said he had either been abducted or had defected at a time when international tensions over Iran's nuclear programme were at their peak. Iran finally reached a deal with world powers in July 2015, promising to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions. Iran last year signed a landmark deal with world powers, including the US, to place curbs on its controversial nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Between 2010 and 2012, four nuclear scientists were assassinated inside Iran and a fifth survived a bomb attack.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 07, 2016 12:56 UTC