Alireza Akbari, the British-Iranian dual national and former Iranian deputy defence minister was executed earlier this year by Tehran over accusations of espionage. Now, a detailed report by the New York Times confirms that Akbari was indeed a British spy and had been leaking Iranian nuclear secrets since 2004, managing to hide his activities for a 15-year long period.&nbsp;

Citing three Western intelligence and national security officials, the report claims that it was in 2008 that a senior British intelligence officer went to Tel Aviv and informed Israeli officials about the mole they had planted with access to Iran's nuclear secrets. The officer forwarded&nbsp;Akbari's investigation which stated that Iran had been enriching uranium at a secret underground site at Fordow, 20 miles northeast of Qom.&nbsp;

At the G20 summit in Pittsburgh&nbsp;the following year, the then US President Barack Obama made the revelations public, sending shockwaves across the world. The report by Akbari was the reason Tehran was made a pariah state with hefty economic sanctions imposed on it - the effects of which are still being felt by the West Asian country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to reports,&nbsp;Akbari's inputs also played a prominent role in the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was killed in 2020 by Israeli special forces.

<h2>Russia helped Iran track&nbsp;the mole</h2>

The report claimed that Iran finally managed to get hold of Akbari after receiving assistance from Russian intelligence officials. However, the publication&nbsp;did not make it clear how Moscow managed to make the discovery.&nbsp;

"He [Akbari] appeared to get away with it until 2019, when Iran discovered with the assistance of Russian intelligence officials that he had revealed the existence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons program deep in the mountains near Tehran, according to two Iranian sources with links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards," read the report.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-alireza-akbari-executed-on-charges-of-being-a-british-spy-uk-condemns-execution-552686">WATCH |&nbsp;Iran: Alireza Akbari executed on charges of being a British spy, UK condemns execution</a>

<h2>Akbari's execution</h2>

Iran’s judicial news agency, Mizan&nbsp;accused Akbari&nbsp;of being, “one of the most important agents of the British spy service who collected important information and provided this for the British spy service in a fully informed and targeted manner.”

Prior to his execution, Akbari reportedly denied any wrongdoing. He also allegedly said that he was tortured and forced to make false confessions after he was accused of obtaining top-secret intelligence for the British intelligence agency, MI6.&nbsp;

“With more than 3,500 hours of torture, psychedelic drugs, and physiological and psychological pressure methods, they took away my will,” said Akbari, as per a report by Reuters, citing the BBC Persian’s audio recording.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-is-alireza-akbari-the-british-iranian-executed-by-iran-for-spying-552893">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Explained: Who is Alireza Akbari the British-Iranian dual national executed by Iran for ‘spying’?</a>

The execution was harshly denounced by&nbsp;the UK and other Western nations.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron called the British-Iranian dual national’s execution an “odious and barbaric act."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Alireza Akbari, the British-Iranian dual national and former Iranian deputy defence minister was executed earlier this year by Tehran over accusations of espionage.

Alireza Akbari, the British-Iranian dual national and former Iranian deputy defence minister was executed earlier this year by Tehran over accusations of espionage. Now, a detailed report by the New York Times confirms that Akbari was indeed a British spy and had been leaking Iranian nuclear secrets since 2004, managing to hide his activities for a 15-year long period. Citing three Western intelligence and national security officials, the report claims that it was in 2008 that a senior British intelligence officer went to Tel Aviv and informed Israeli officials about the mole they had planted with access to Iran's nuclear secrets. The officer forwarded Akbari's investigation which stated that Iran had been enriching uranium at a secret underground site at Fordow, 20 miles northeast of Qom. At the G20 summit in Pittsburgh the following year, the then US President Barack Obama made the revelations public, sending shockwaves across the world. The report by Akbari was the reason Tehran was made a pariah state with hefty economic sanctions imposed on it - the effects of which are still being felt by the West Asian country. According to reports, Akbari's inputs also played a prominent role in the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was killed in 2020 by Israeli special forces. Russia helped Iran track the mole The report claimed that Iran finally managed to get hold of Akbari after receiving assistance from Russian intelligence officials. However, the publication did not make it clear how Moscow managed to make the discovery. "He [Akbari] appeared to get away with it until 2019, when Iran discovered with the assistance of Russian intelligence officials that he had revealed the existence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons program deep in the mountains near Tehran, according to two Iranian sources with links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards," read the report. WATCH | Iran: Alireza Akbari executed on charges of being a British spy, UK condemns execution Akbari's execution Iran’s judicial news agency, Mizan accused Akbari of being, “one of the most important agents of the British spy service who collected important information and provided this for the British spy service in a fully informed and targeted manner.” Prior to his execution, Akbari reportedly denied any wrongdoing. He also allegedly said that he was tortured and forced to make false confessions after he was accused of obtaining top-secret intelligence for the British intelligence agency, MI6. “With more than 3,500 hours of torture, psychedelic drugs, and physiological and psychological pressure methods, they took away my will,” said Akbari, as per a report by Reuters, citing the BBC Persian’s audio recording. ALSO READ | Explained: Who is Alireza Akbari the British-Iranian dual national executed by Iran for ‘spying’? The execution was harshly denounced by the UK and other Western nations. French President Emmanuel Macron called the British-Iranian dual national’s execution an “odious and barbaric act." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Israel received intel about Iran's nuclear weapons through British spy Alireza Akbari: Report

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Gravitas: 60 years of James Bond films

A portrait sketched by British spy John Andre, who was executed for funnelling messages to Revolutionary War turncoat Benedict Arnold, sold for $47,500 on Tuesday, said the New York auction house that sold it. 
 
The pencil drawing on paper, dated sometime in 1776, portrays Abraham Cornelius Cuyler, mayor of Albany, New York, and his wife, Jannetje Jacobse Glen, who were strong British loyalists, Swann Auction Galleries spokeswoman Alexandra Nelson said. 
 
&quot;A drawing like this, it enlivens the period,&quot; Nelson said. &quot;It makes you feel like these are real people.&quot; 
 
Andre, a British officer, stayed as a guest at the couple&#39;s home at the time of the drawing. 
 
He was captured by American Continental Army officials and hanged on October 2, 1780, after being convicted of spying for the British. 
 
Andre was accused of relaying military information to Arnold, a Continental Army general who gained infamy among Americans for defecting to the British. 
 
The artwork, believed to be the first by Andre to be auctioned, was passed down to his family members through the generations. Nelson said she could not immediately disclose who purchased the portrait. 
 
(Reuters)

The artwork, believed to be the first by John Andre to be auctioned, was passed down to his family members through the generations

A portrait sketched by British spy John Andre, who was executed for funnelling messages to Revolutionary War turncoat Benedict Arnold, sold for $47,500 on Tuesday, said the New York auction house that sold it. The pencil drawing on paper, dated sometime in 1776, portrays Abraham Cornelius Cuyler, mayor of Albany, New York, and his wife, Jannetje Jacobse Glen, who were strong British loyalists, Swann Auction Galleries spokeswoman Alexandra Nelson said. "A drawing like this, it enlivens the period," Nelson said. "It makes you feel like these are real people." Andre, a British officer, stayed as a guest at the couple's home at the time of the drawing. He was captured by American Continental Army officials and hanged on October 2, 1780, after being convicted of spying for the British. Andre was accused of relaying military information to Arnold, a Continental Army general who gained infamy among Americans for defecting to the British. The artwork, believed to be the first by Andre to be auctioned, was passed down to his family members through the generations. Nelson said she could not immediately disclose who purchased the portrait. (Reuters)

Executed British spy's sketch from 1776 auctioned in New York for almost $50,000

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Israel received intel about Iran's nuclear weapons through British spy Alireza Akbari: Report

Gravitas: 60 years of James Bond films

Executed British spy's sketch from 1776 auctioned in New York for almost $50,000