Iranian Court Upholds Spies’ Death Sentences

Iran’s supreme court has upheld death sentences against five men, including three accused of spying for the United States, the Iranian government’s news agency reported Saturday.

The Islamic Republic News Agency, monitored in Cyprus, said Kazem Tabrizi, Jalil Khatibi and Mohammad Abbaszadeh were arrested in 1992 and later found guilty of selling information to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

The two other men were convicted of participating in a Iraqi-inspired “armed operation against Iran” and of spying for Baghdad, IRNA said. It did not say when they were arrested or give further details.

The agency reported that the executions, usually carried out by hanging or firing squad, would take place “in the near future.”