Iran court sentences 'US spy' to death

Iran's judiciary on Tuesday said that it has sentenced one person to death on charges of spying for the US, officials said.

The announcement was made by Gholamhossein Esmaili, the spokesman for Iran's Judiciary. He did not identify the convict as whether being an Iranian or foreign national.

Two Iran Ali Nefrieh and Mohammad Ali Babapour were also sentenced to 10 years of jail each on spying charges for the US, Esmaili was quoted as saying by the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA).

Besides, Mohammad Amin Nasab an Iranian was sentenced for 10 years in prison for spying for Britain, Esmaili added.

It was not clear if any of those convicted were among the 17 people who Iran's Intelligence Ministry said had been arrested for spying for the CIA earlier this year.

The Ministry alleged these men had been collecting information in nuclear and military facilities and in the private sector - allegations that US President Donald Trump dismissed as "totally false".

In a separate development on Tuesday, state media cited Esmaili as saying that an appeals court had reduced the jail term of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's brother from seven years to five, according to the BBC.

Hossein Fereydoun had been convicted of "receiving bribes", ordered to return any illicitly acquired property and fined about 310 billion riyals ($26.7 million at the unofficial market exchange rate), Esmaili added.

It was reported in May that Fereydoun, a close adviser to the President and senior diplomat, had been handed an unspecified jail term for corruption.

The President's supporters had said that the case was politically motivated.

( With inputs from IANS )