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Iran executes Computer Expert Spy

Computer Expert Ali Ashtari has been executed in Iran after he confessed to working for Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service.

Ali Ashtari, 43, a computer and hi-tech equipment buyer for Iran’s defence industry and nuclear programme, was hanged in November after admitting he worked for Israel. It is the first known conviction of an alleged Israeli agent in Iran for almost 10 years.

Ashtari was trusted to travel overseas and buy the advanced computers and other electronic equipment needed for the regime’s nuclear programme.

He allowed the purchased software to be subtly doctored by Israeli computer engineers before it was imported to Iran.

According to surveillance experts, this allowed Israel to monitor Irans computer systems and insert bugs that could slow down Tehran’s weapons development or even sabotage it altogether. Israel has denied that Ashtari was one of its spies.

Ashtari said he was recruited by Mossad agents in Europe while on a business trip. According to his testimony, he was offered expensive medical treatment in Switzerland. He is understood to have spied for Israel for at least three years.

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