Iran arrests alleged spies for UK, Germany, Israel

Al-Monitor Staff

TOPSHOT - Demonstrators protest against Iran's President Hassan Rouhani outside the United Nations headquarters, where Rouhani addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York on September 22, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images) — Demonstrators protest against Iran's President Hassan Rouhani outside the United Nations headquarters, where Rouhani addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York on Sept. 22, 2016. — JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

Iran arrested five people for allegedly spying on the Islamic Republic for other countries, according to the state-run press.

Five Iranians are now in detention on espionage charges, Press TV reported on Tuesday, citing judicial officials. They worked in the foreign and defense ministries, the oil sector and at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and spied for Israel, the United Kingdom and Germany, according to the news outlet.

Masoud Mosaheb was sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying for Israel and Germany. Shahram Shirkhani was also sentenced to prison for passing defense and bank-related information to the United Kingdom and attempting to recruit other Iranians to spy, according to Press TV. The outlet did not provide further details on the alleged espionage.

Iran’s justice system has been criticized for unfair trials by international observers.

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Iran arrests alleged spies for UK, Germany, Israel

Iran executed men it said spied for the United States and Israel last month.

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