DEATH SENTENCE FOR IRANIAN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE FOR ISRAEL

an Iranian charged with espionage for Israel was sentenced to death. An unnamed official of the intelligence service told Fars news agency that Ali Ashtari was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court for spying for the 'Zionist regime.'
The official said the sentence still had to be confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Ashtari could also still appeal the verdict.
The last court sitting for Ashtari was held when he replied to the charges. His lawyer was allowed to give a closing speech. The revolutionary court presented tools put at the disposal of the accused by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad for the purpose of spying on Iran.
Fars news agency quoted Ashtari as confessing to his espionage activities and begging for mercy.
Ashtari said that he was arrested 18 months ago by intelligence agents for having given telecommunication data to the Israelis. He was the owner of a company that imported security equipment into Iran with a branch office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was apparently approached by the Mossad agents who, under the pretext of business cooperation, sought telecommunication information. Ashtari reportedly met the three agents 13 times and received 50,000 dollars from them.