Iran Seeks Death Sentences for 'Tens of U.S. Spies'
Former contract employee was recently executed on charges of spying for the CIA
Iranian prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for several suspects arrested last year for spying for the United States in military and nuclear bodies, state media reported Tuesday, as tensions rise with Washington over Tehran's nuclear program.
Iran said in August it had arrested "tens of spies" in state bodies, many of whom were dual nationals.
In June, Iran said it executed a former contract employee of the defense ministry aerospace body on charges of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
>> Read more: The Iran Crisis Is Exposing a Far Deeper Conflict Between Trump and Europe | Opinion ■ U.S.-Iran Tensions: What the Key Players Around Trump Are Pushing For
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said an unspecified number of suspects, arrested less than a year ago, faced possible death sentences in military tribunals, state televison reported.
"Two of the defendants, who were not military, have received long prison terms," Esmaili added, without giving details.
Iran announced Monday it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under a 2015 nuclear deal, a move denounced by President Donald Trump as "playing with fire" amid concerns about deepening U.S.-Iranian confrontation.
- Iran exceeds enriched uranium stockpile allowed under nuclear deal
- 'Seriously?': Iran rejects U.S. accusation it long violated nuclear deal
- World powers meet with Iran in 'last chance' to save nuclear deal
The initiative marked Tehran's first major shift from the provisions of the pact since the United States pulled out of it more than a year ago.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the move was not a violation of the accord, arguing that Iran was exercising its right to respond to the U.S. walkout.