IRAN: Telecom executive accused of spying for Israel is sentenced to death

Iranian authorities this week sentenced the manager of a telecommunications company to death on charges of spying for Israel.

Ali Ashtari, who sold communications and security equipment to the Iranian government, was arrested about 18 months ago on charges of "engaging in espionage for [Israel's] Mossad intelligence service," Iranian news agencies reported.

The 45-year-old allegedly confessed to the crime and asked for mercy. He told the judge he accepted a $50,000 "loan" from Israelis to get him out of financial trouble, according to news agencies. The website of an state-owned Iranian television station quoted an anonymous intelligence official alleging that Ashtari handed Israelis sensitive information about Iran's communications system and nuclear program.

He's got 20 days to appeal his capital sentence.

In Iran, it's tough to figure out who's an actual spy and who's a casualty of political infighting. The tubby, balding Ashtari hardly seems like a swashbuckling secret agent. And any foreign correspondent or geologist working in the field will quickly recognize the satellite telecommunications equipment shown in the courtroom picture as standard tools of the trade, stuff you can buy on the open market.

Since the beginning 1979 Islamic revolution, figures within Iran's fractured leadership have hurled charges of espionage to take out opponents or sully the reputation of a rival factions.

But the U.S. and Israel have vowed to try to undermine Iranian government by ramping up intelligence and covert operations. Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported this week of a $400-million budget allocated for covert intelligence and sabotage operations in Iran. Ashtari appeared perfectly positioned to help gather intelligence.

— Borzou Daragahi in Beirut

Photo: Ali Ashtari sits in a Tehran courtroom near equipment he allegedly used in espionage for Israel. Credit: Hassan Ghaedi / Fars News Agency

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Comments

[Hamed Abadi]

We all know that US does not have much good data on what is going in Iran. Our inelegance agencies have been out of touch on the actual facts in Iran for a long time. The Intel that they get either old, late or not true, otherwise Iran would not be where they are now. Most of pen pushers ( guys in the suite and ties) are out of touch and not working well with the filed guys or other agencies. Iran will continue to support violence and spending Billions on promoting BASIJ (ready to die army of khameni) globally most are young people who have been brain washed by the system and Iran's controlled Media. Iran's government is made of Sepha people with little or no formal education (most are given Doctorate Degrees) by serving the army or the war.
This poor guy is not a spy, he just wanted to make some money by selling digital devices and the timing was bad for him so they are making him another fall guy.

[rh]

The Bush regime's lies about Iraq are exposed while their lies about Iran are on going. The Bushites lies are not getting any traction in LA or NY or even in Peoria.

But Latimes roster of neocons and editors maintain the fog of lies. The guy was caught with the cash and he accepted his guilt.

Bushites lectures and lies need to be exposed rather than sonorously lectured to Iran. While maintaining a world wide kidnap and torture gulag around the world US is in no position to lecture anybody.
rh

[Chris]

In that very same article the jewish writer tells a lie which he then contradicts a paragraph later. He says that the man was sentenced to death for being CHARGED with espionage, but as this same article states the man was sentenced to death for being FOUND GUILTY of espionage.

Great example of the diabolical lies zionists plant in their "news" articles for the western subconscious.

[mlimberg]

July 4th will have special meaning this year as Israel will reduce the Iranian nuclear program to a pile of glowing rocks...

[wemustrepent]

Suicide By Global Police
It is alright to be worried, because fear causes action.
Here is what is happening:
"Suicide-by-cop" is a suicide method in which a person deliberately
acts in a threatening way, with the goal of provoking a lethal response
from a law enforcement officer, such as being shot to death.
The United States is acting as the world's Police.
World War 3 is in the making, and elements in the middle east
are bent on Suicide By the Global Police.