Iranian Regime to Seek Death for 3 Suspects Accused of Spying

Nov. 25 (Bloomberg) -- An Iranian prosecutor said he’ll request the death sentence for three suspects accused of spying for Israel, the state-run Iranian Students News Agency reported.

The three people in the alleged ring, who are in custody, were trained in four foreign countries by top officers in Israel’s Mossad spy agency and then in Tel-Aviv, Tehran’s General Prosecutor Said Mortazavi was quoted as saying by ISNA. He didn’t give their nationalities.

Iran announced yesterday it brought down a network tied to Mossad that was collecting information on the Persian Gulf country’s nuclear activities and military operations.

Mossad first approached a person who had been in Iran’s Basiji militia, Mortazavi said. After recruiting him to spy for Israel, Mossad attracted other people and organized the ring, the prosecutor added.

Israel, a state which has never been recognized by Iran’s Islamic leadership, accuses the government in Tehran of seeking to develop an atomic bomb, a claim that is backed by the U.S. and some of its major allies. Iran says its nuclear work is legal, and aimed at producing electricity.

Tensions have increased with Iran’s refusal to halt its nuclear program and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s questioning of the Jewish nation’s right to exist. Israeli officials have warned in recent months that all options may be considered to stop Iran’s nuclear progress.

Iran said that on Nov. 17 it executed a man convicted of spying for Mossad.