Just when we thought we may go through one full day without some escalation out of the greater Iran region, here comes the WSJ to inform us that Iran has decided to shove the MAD ball right back into America's court with news that Iran has sentenced alleged CIA spy, 28 year old Amir Hekmati, to death. "Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, born in Arizona to Iranian parents and raised in Michigan, was accused of Moharebe--or being the enemy of God-- the highest crime in Islamic law that carries the death penalty in countries where Sharia law is practiced. The prosecutor's indictment against Hekmati, read in court, said he was guilty of waging a war against God, spying on the Islamic Republic of Iran for the CIA and working for an enemy government, according to Iranian media reports." Needless to say, "the case, the first recent death penalty for an American in Iran, will likely increase tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The State Department has called for Iran to release Hekmati and give the Swiss embassy--the protectorate of U.S. interest in Iran--access to him." It appears Iran has decided not to proceed with those particular instructions.
More from the WSJ [6]:
Fars News Agency, a semi-official service affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards Corps, quoted Hekmati in court as saying, "I was fooled by the CIA to come to Iran and infiltrate the intelligence agencies and become a source for the CIA. But I personally didn't intend to harm Iran, I love Iran and wanted to live here and not return to the U.S."
It is not clear if the quotes attributed to Hekmati are accurate or if he made the comments under duress in a forced confession. The court hearing was behind closed doors.
Hekmati is a former U.S. Marine who served from 2001-2005 and subsequently worked as a contract translator for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. At the time of his visit to Iran in August, he was working for a contractor company in Qatar, according to statements by his family.
The CIA has not commented on his case but his family has said that his visit to Iran in August 2011 was for personal reasons and denied that he received training or worked for the CIA.
"Amir has never had any affiliation with the CIA, and these allegations are untrue," said the family in a statement in December after his initial court hearing.
Judging by Brent's response today, especially with some rather dire predictions [7]hitting the tape over the weekend, few believe this latest push will amount to much and is merely more posturing. Which it will be, until it isn't.
h/t London Dude Trader