Video: An Iranian court has convicted an American man of working for the CIA and sentenced him to death, state radio reported Monday. (Jan. 9)
By Thomas Erdbrink, Updated: Tuesday, January 10, 4:11 AM
TEHRAN — An Iranian court on Monday convicted an American man of working for the CIA and sentenced him to death, state media reported.
Iranian authorities allege that Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine, received special training at U.S. bases in Iraq and Afghanistan before being dispatched on a spy mission in Iran. Hekmati, 28, was born in Arizona but holds dual citizenship. The United States denies that he is a spy.
Hekmati has 20 days to appeal the court’s decision, which comes at a time of increasing tension between Tehran and Washington.
Today’s arrest of a former U.S. Marine in Iran is the latest in a series of events that have Increased tensions between United States and Iran.
The United States is pursuing tough sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, and diplomats in Vienna told wire services on Monday that Iran has begun uranium enrichment at an underground mountain bunker, using a process that makes uranium that can be upgraded for weapons use more quickly than the country’s main stockpile.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is for energy and scientific purposes only, not for use in atomic weapons.
Just last week, Iran warned a U.S. aircraft carrier not to return to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, prompting strong warnings from the U.S. military against any action.
Intelligence shows that Iran received foreign assistance to overcome key hurdles in acquiring technology that could lead to a nuclear weapon
“Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations,” said Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which is based in Bahrain. “Any disruption will not be tolerated.”
Precisely when and where Hekmati was arrested is unclear. Iranian news reports have said he was detained in late August or early September, according to the Associated Press. The New York Times reported that the Iranian Intelligence Ministry said its agents tracked the young man from Bagram air base in Afghanistan, arresting him after he crossed the border into Iran.
Hekmati’s family members, who live in Michigan, reportedly said he was in Iran to visit his grandmother.
In Washington, a State Department spokesperson reiterated previous statements denying that Hekmati was a spy. Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said U.S. officials were working through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran to obtain information about Hekmati’s case and to press for his release. The Swiss government represents U.S. interests in Iran, because Iran does not have diplomatic relations with Washington.
“If true, we strongly condemn this verdict,” Nuland said. “Allegations that Mr. Hekmati either worked for, or was sent to Iran by the CIA are simply untrue. The Iranian regime has a history of falsely accusing people of being spies, of eliciting forced confessions, and of holding innocent Americans for political reasons.”
Hekmati appeared on Iranian state television in December and purportedly confessed to working for the CIA. It is unclear whether the statements were made under duress.
“It was their plan to first burn some useful information, give it to them [the Iranians] and let the Intelligence Ministry think that this is good material and contact me afterwards,” Hekmati said in his television appearance.
He went on to say that the CIA ordered him “to become a source for [Iran’s] Intelligence Ministry” and remain in Tehran “for three weeks and feed them this information, get some money for it and come back.”
Iranian media have reported that Hekmati was spotted by Iranian intelligence operatives while visiting Bagram air base north of Kabul.
Several assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and mysterious explosions at military and industrial sites in recent years have prompted Iran to keep closer tabs on dual nationals visiting the country. Hekmati is considered an Iranian by the government in Tehran, not an American, because the country does not recognize dual citizenship,
During Hekmati’s trial, the state prosecutor demanded “the most severe punishment” in retaliation for what he alleged was increased spy activities by the United States, the semiofficial Fars News Agency reported.
Hekmati was convicted of working with a hostile country, belonging to the CIA and trying to accuse Iran of involvement in terrorism, Fars reported.
He was described by the court as a “mohareb,” an Islamic legal term meaning he “waged war against God,” and a “mofsed,” or someone who “spreads corruption on the earth,” the AP reported.
The judge, Abolghassem Salavati, has presided over mass trials against activists before, sentencing at least three people to death after having given them similar labels.
Staff writer Joby Warrick contributed to this report from Washington.
More coverage of Iran:
- Iran looks for friends in Latin America
- In Iran, a sense of impending war
- Iran welcomes U.S. Navy rescue operation
- Read more headlines from around the world
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