Alleged US spy gets death sentence in Iran: report

A person who was accused of spying for the U.S. has reportedly been sentenced to death in Iran, according to multiple reports. 

Gholamhossein Esmaili, a spokesman for Iran’s Judiciary, said that the person, whom he did not identify, has appealed and an ultimate decision will be made by an appeals court, according to The Associated Press. 

{mosads}Three others charged with spying for the CIA or British intelligence services were sentenced to 10 years in prison, Esmaili said, according to Bloomberg, which cited the official Mizan online news service.

Esmaili also confirmed for the first time that Iran had detained an Iranian-British anthropologist, Kameel Ahmady, over alleged links to foreign intelligence agencies. Ahmady’s wife had previously said he had been arrested in August. Iran does not recognize dual nationalities. 

The sentences and detentions come as tensions between the West and Iran escalate. 

Iran is believed to be behind an attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. Iran has denied being behind the attack, which Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for carrying out.

Iran’s economy has been hit hard by sanctions imposed after the Trump administration pulled the United States from the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration.