Iran sentences two Iranians for spying for Israel and the West

Iran has sentenced two Iranians to 10-year prison terms on charges of spying for Israel, Germany and the UK

A general view of Tehran. Two Iranians have been sentenced to 10-year prison terms on charges of spying for Israel, Germany and the UK. EPA

Iran sentenced two of its citizens to 10 years in Jail after finding them guilty of spying for Israel, Germany and the UK.

A report published on the website of the Iranian judiciary on Tuesday identified the two men as Masoud ­Mosaheb, co-chairman of the Iran-­Austrian Friendship Society, and Shahram Shirkhani.

Iran claimed Mr Mosaheb shared information about “nuclear and missile projects” with Israel and the German intelligence service.

Mr Shirkhani was accused of spying for the UK by gathering “sensitive information” on Iran’s banking and defence sectors and trying to recruit government staff to his cause.

Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili recently said five Iranians were detained on spying charges. He said the group included employees of Iran’s foreign and energy ministries.

People accused of espionage by Iran face lengthy jail terms or even the death penalty.

In July, Iran executed Reza Asgari, a former defence ministry employee convicted of spying on behalf of the CIA.

Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd was also executed in July after being convicted of providing information to the US and Israel about top Iranian military commander Qassem ­Suleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January.

In June, Iran hanged Jalal Hajizavar, a former memb of at the defence ministry, after he admitted in court he was paid to spy for the CIA.

And in 2016, Iran executed a nuclear scientist convicted of spying for the US.