Islam Times - Iran to issue verdict of US spy soon

Islam Times - Iran's Prosecutor General Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei says that a verdict will be issued soon for a CIA operative of Iranian descent who is on trial for espionage.

"The court proceeding has come to an end and his lawyer has said that he will present the court with his last defense," Mohseni-Ejei said on Monday.

"No verdict has been issued yet, but the verdict will be issued after the last defense is presented to the court," he added.

Amir Mirzaei Hekmati has been charged with attempting to infiltrate Iran's intelligence apparatus to implicate the Islamic Republic in sponsoring terrorism.

His indictment papers said Hekmati had been hired by the CIA in May 2009 to carry out espionage missions in Iran.

Hekmati stood in the dock and confessed to having been deceived by the CIA to spy on Iran.

He explained that his mission was to offer Iran's intelligence agents valid data in return for money and to confirm payment by obtaining receipts that could later be used by US intelligence officials to implicate the Islamic Republic in terrorist activities.

The 28-year-old Hekamti, who has pleaded guilty to all counts, could face the death penalty if found guilty.