Iranian judge sentences American to death for spying

He's getting a Guantanamo treatment.

No! This is justice Iranian style, right??

Ramp up the tension even more, that's the way to handle things Iran - well done NOT !

What would the USA think about an Iranian spy in Washington DC??

Elbuda: "What would the USA think about an Iranian spy in Washington DC??"

My guess is they would not think well of an Iranian spy in Washington, and if caught they would ship him/her off to a hidden prison somewhere to be tortured and we'd never hear about it. It wouldn't be like with Iran publicly announcing it.

He is a handsome young man, hope Iran and the USA work it out to save him. But death penalty should be abolished, In Iran, the USA and Japan.

Probably just another American murdered by Iranians to give a brief sense of satisfaction to the Iranian hardliners and Western liberals.

Iran, I would ask you to please show humanity and mercy and not impose a death sentence.

ummm regardless of spying or not, he should've just been put in jail. Not killed. Use common sense. This world is getting on my nerves.

This world is getting on my nerves.

Yeah, but consider your options....

I think the Iranians are just trying to make a scene. But not having any evidence it's hard to say. Either way the death penalty is ludicrious.

I think the Iranians are just trying to make a scene.

The timing makes me think this young man just became a bargaining chip.

What would the USA think about an Iranian spy in Washington DC??

It's a fair question. A better question would be what would the USA think of Iranian-based agents in the US targeting and assassinating US citizens. How many scientists in Iran allegedly associated with Iran's nuclear program have been assassinated by anti-Iranian operatives in recent months?

It is a fact that the Central Intelligence Agency helped overthrow a democratically elected government of Iran in the 1950s and assisted Iran's intelligence agency (SAVAK) in the torture and deaths of thousands of innocent Iranians over nearly three decades. Well, innocent except for the fact they opposed the brutal and corrupt regime of the Shah. We can't expect a culture with a 2000+ year history to forget such things so fast.

The timing makes me think this young man just became a bargaining chip.

A corpse does not make a very good chip. If he's going to be a bargaining chip, that will be borne out soon enough. My instincts tell me that he'll be put to death just as quickly as any other Iranian in their system as an example. If not, then you are right.

Iranian officials said his cover was blown by agents for Iran who spotted him at the U.S.-run Bagram military air base in neighboring Afghanistan.

Gee, and here the Americans thought that they could pull one over on "dumb" and unsuspecting Iranians. Hundreds of Americans of Iranian descent visit Iran each year without any difficulty. Just don't give them any reason to suspect you are involved in espionage. But it's not like the Iranians are kidnapping people off the streets in foreign countries and subjecting them to extraordinary rendition. Only the "advanced" countries can expect to do that and get away with it -- just like they can expect to get away with assassinating citizens within their own country.

Gee, and here the Americans thought that they could pull one over on "dumb" and unsuspecting Iranians.

Iran has offered no proof, and yet you automatically believe them. I suppose you don't find the timing of the announcement at all suspect?

And as for "What would the USA think about an Iranian spy in Washington DC??"

The United States tends not to execute spies, only traitors. And we don't even really do that anymore.

Iran has offered no proof

Perhaps it could call some American witnesses to testify to the fact that Amir never visited the base in Afghanistan? His confession is not good enough for you I guess?

The United States tends not to execute spies

Tends? I guess you do remember the Rosenbergs after all? You probably don't remember the German spies/saboteurs America executed. Who cares what America "tends" to do! America executes spies, so does Iran. Until America forever removes the execution option from the table, I am afraid there is no moral high ground, but only hypocrisy. But hey, what's new? American hypocrisy on matters like these are an every day occurrence.

only traitors.

I guess you skipped the part about Amir having Iranian citizenship? In America, two witnesses are enough to be found guilty of treason. Although I don't understand your claim that America executes traitors.

Amir Mirzai Hekmati, 28, was “sentenced to death for cooperating with a hostile nation, membership of the CIA and trying to implicate Iran in terrorism,” the verdict said, according to Fars.

Hmmm....this is how most countries show their appreciation for America's assistance. We save some Iranians from pirates on the high seas and get them home safely.

Iran says Thank You and to show our appreciation we will give this guy the death penalty.

Now granted, the two incidents have no connection whatsoever....but...I believe this. I believe we need to start offering bread instead of stones. More olive branches need to be offered instead of death.

Sorry Net! You only seem to know the propaganda spewed out by Fox news. Ask the Iranians how they suffered in their war against Iraq sponsored by the CIA?? The USA?? Would you be thankful to such a country??

Iranians in general have a positive view of Americans. It's the gay killing Iranian hard liners and western liberals who work as a team to justify the execution of Americans.

It's the gay killing Iranian hard liners and western liberals who work as a team to justify the execution of Americans.

I have tremendous respect for those who are vocal against the death penalty. I just hope that one day you will learn to extend your opposition to benefit others and not just American spies.

...holds Iranian citizenship...

That means his spying was also treason. Hence the death sentence instead of imprisonment.

If you think there are no Iranian spies in America then you are a fool. They are here in Japan too. Go to Hubs in Machida and meet them.

smithinjapan

My guess is they would not think well of an Iranian spy in Washington, and if caught they would ship him/her off to a hidden prison somewhere

Come on, you promised the forum Obama would close Gitmo. Back on the campaign trail in 08 it was as if Barack was looking right into your eyes, albeit via the TV camera, and speaking directly to you and your progressive buds.Remember? He would never break the special promises he made you, would he.

to be tortured and we'd never hear about it. It wouldn't be like with Iran publicly announcing it.

Tortured and killed like the Iranians did Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi ?

His confession is not good enough for you I guess?

Many in Guantanamo confessed too..............

SolarSails: I have tremendous respect for those who are vocal against the death penalty. I just hope that one day you will learn to extend your opposition to benefit others and not just American spies.

What makes you think I support the death penalty for anyone? I've always been against it, always will be. You are confusing me with a radical liberal. They are against the death penalty until an American is involved, then they talk about the Shah in order to protect Iran from criticism. One does the deed, their partner covers their tracks.

The END of World War 3 is coming soon. Remember, Iran started all of our problems in the Middle East on that faithful day - November 4th, 1979, and the west will end it where it all started - in Iran!

Fresh sanctions signed by President Obama at the end of last year targeting the country's central bank, has put both politicians and average citizens on edge about the stability of the economy.

Just for perspective as to why the Iranians are really doing this.

Most readers will understand and see the lie behind "protecting Iran from criticism."

The truth is that Iran should not be unequivocally condemned for taking strong measures against espionage. Especially when the lies and condemnations are coming from those who defend espionage and assassination themselves, but only when it is being conducted in their name.

The "deed" that was done was to send in an agent whom Iranian sources identified as being seen at a US base in Afghanistan prior to his entry to Iran. (Sending him in was not Iran's doing.) No mention is made of the "deeds" that include assassinating nearly a half-dozen Iranians over the past two years, so as to cover those tracks. Unlike Hekmati, however, none of those Iranians received any form of due process before their executions were carried out on the streets of their own country.

I'm guessing the Iranians won't have the balls to actually execute Hekmati after the U.S. rescued Iranians from pirates.

@Serrano don't get your hopes up. The Iranian gov is full of overzealous religious nuts.

The truth is that Iran should not be unequivocally condemned for taking strong measures against espionage. Especially when the lies and condemnations are coming from those who defend espionage and assassination themselves, but only when it is being conducted in their name.

Ah, is that what they're doing here. Good to know. I mean, if you hadn't told me that, I might have thought that Iran was merely presenting trumped up charges, with no basis in reality, to use this man as a bargaining chip. I mean, they've never, ever done that before. Certainly no hikers were ever arrested, falsely convicted of spying, before eventually being released... No, Iran is definitely in the right as they always are. No doubt the execution of homosexuals and women is completely justifiable as well... Moving on.

with no basis in reality

Ah, even through the sarcasm you begrudgingly admit that, unlike others, Iran actually has some goods on this guy. You appear to be saying that Iran has to tolerate and accept espionage that leaves their citizens dead.

Nobody but you has put forth the claim that Iran is "always" in the right. Dishonest as always. Moving on.

This is a thank you we get from Iran after US Navy rescuing Iranian fishermen from Pirates.

This is a thank you we get from Iran after US Navy rescuing Iranian fishermen from Pirates.

If you're going to try to connect events like this, then the assassinations of private Iranian citizens within their own country by agents acting on behalf of the U.S. and a few of its "allies" more than balances things out.

But it's not like the Iranians are kidnapping people off the streets in foreign countries and subjecting them to extraordinary rendition

No, they just kill them, on the spot, in Europe and elsewhere. And what's worse is that among the victims are Iranian citizens. Some were loyal to the former leader, some were considered threats to the present regime, but they all get killed in cold blood. The mullahs' assassination squads operate worldwide.

The mullahs' assassination squads operate worldwide.

Pure fantasy.

Pure fantasy.

Funny. I was not aware the BBC News reported pure fantasy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15266992

Dishonest as always. Moving on.

Good of you to finally admit your bias yabits.

Funny. I was not aware the BBC News reported pure fantasy.

Heh, good one.

Funny. I was not aware the BBC News reported pure fantasy.

LOL! It is not fantasy to report that the U.S. government believes it has uncovered some kind of Iranian hit squad.

But what the U.S. believes about this is pure fantasy, now that the allegations regarding this are being debunked.

I believe most adults can distinguish the difference.

Speaking of pure fantasy, the Quds Force has never been "debunked" and in fact have been implicated in attacks that go back at least until 1983 Beirut. Interesting to know you think the Obama government deals in pure fantasy though.