According to the BBC, "Balance" news agency said that akbari had been hanged, but did not specify the exact execution date. According to the report, the Iranian side informed akbari's family to visit the prison for the last time on June 1 1.
British Prime Minister: I am deeply shocked.
According to the reference news, British PA Media Group reported that British Prime Minister Ricky Sunak said that he was "deeply shocked" by the Iranian decision to execute akbari.
Sunak wrote on Twitter: "This is a cold-blooded and cowardly act of a cruel regime, which does not respect the human rights of its own people."
Sunak Image Source: Xinhua News Agency
Foreign Secretary James Cleary also tweeted. He said that this "barbaric behavior" should be condemned in the strongest terms, and that Britain "will not ignore it."
According to Agence France-Presse 13, before the man was executed, Vedante Patel, deputy spokesman of the State Council, said: "The charges against akbari and the death sentence are politically motivated, and his death sentence is unacceptable." Patel also condemned that "akbari was drugged, tortured and forced to confess guilt during his detention".
One of the "most important" agents of Iranian MI 6.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the Iranian judiciary 1 1 said that Alireza akbari, a former deputy defense minister, was sentenced to death for spying for Britain.
Akbari served as deputy defense chief from 1997 to 2005, assisted by Ali Shamkhani, then defense chief, who is now the secretary of the Iranian National Supreme Security Council.
Akbari was arrested on 20 19. Balance, a news agency affiliated to the Iranian judiciary, said that akbari "endangered national security by sending information about British espionage abroad" and sentenced him to death on the basis of "credible evidence and documents".
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Image source: Xinhua News Agency
The website of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry issued a statement on 1 1, saying that akbari's position exposed him to sensitive data, which made him one of the "most important" agents of the British Secret Intelligence Agency, that is, MI6. He had infiltrated some sensitive strategic institutions in Iran, collected important data and sent them to the British Secret Intelligence Agency in a specific way.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleary said on social media that akbari has dual citizenship of Britain and Iran, and Iran sentenced akbari to death "for political motives". He demanded that the Iranian side cancel the execution and release the people immediately.
Iran does not recognize dual nationality.
The reference news quoted the Associated Press as saying that for several years, Iran has been engaged in a secret war with the United States and Israel, mainly around its controversial nuclear program. Iran's chief nuclear scientist was killed in 2020, and Iran accused Israel of assassination.
According to CCTV news, Iranian intelligence agencies issued a statement on June 65438+1October 10 local time, saying that in a series of recent operations, Iranian intelligence agencies arrested six action teams belonging to the Israeli Mossad in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd and West Azerbaijan, with a total of 13 members. The equipment used by these members has been confiscated and the case is under further investigation.
Extended reading:
A neighboring country of China opened its doors to NATO forces, and many foreign media warned of danger.
Kishida fumio and Sunak.
/kloc-two countries that declared an alliance against the same country 0/20 years ago have recently come together historically. One of them is Britain, and the other is a neighbor of China.
This time, the two countries have made big moves again. The British and Japanese prime ministers signed a military agreement described by the media as a "century agreement", allowing each other to station troops in each other's territory. Behind the signing of the agreement, the figure of another western power quietly emerged.
What does this action of Britain and Japan mean? At least, many international media read two words: danger!
"/kloc-the most important defense agreement in 0/20 years"
On June 65438+1October 1 1 Sunday, local time, visiting Japanese Prime Minister kishida fumio held talks with British Prime Minister Sunak, and the two sides signed the defense agreement "Reciprocal Visit Agreement".
Foreign media have noticed that this is the first and most important defense agreement signed by Japan and European countries for more than a century. The last time the two countries signed such an agreement can be traced back to 1902.
The main purpose of this agreement is to "promote the joint training between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the British Army, so that the troops can communicate smoothly". It is mentioned that the two sides allow each other to station troops. The British army can be stationed on Japanese territory and the Japanese army can also be stationed in the UK. The two sides also allow "common defense when any country is attacked." Foreign media pointed out that this is similar to the agreement signed with the United States and Australia.
Japan and Britain signed a "significant" defense agreement. Image source: Qatar Al Jazeera report screenshot
The British government believes that this agreement will help consolidate its commitment to "Indo-Pacific region" and enable the British and Japanese armed forces to "plan and launch larger and more complex military exercises and military deployments".
In order to strengthen defense cooperation, the two countries have previously concluded the Agreement on Intelligence Protection, which can exchange confidential information, and the Agreement on Mutual Provision of Goods and Services, which can accommodate goods and services.
What are the advantages of signing an agreement between the two countries?
Shortly after the beginning of 2023, Japanese Prime Minister kishida fumio began his first trip to Europe and America, visiting France, Italy and Britain nonstop. Of these three countries, only British Prime Minister Sunak signed such a defense agreement with Kishida.
All the way to Europe, Kishida must have been carefully planned and had "results", so why did Japan sign an agreement with Britain?
As a defeated country in World War II, Japan was required to limit its military strength to defense, and its military aspect was totally dependent on the United States. At present, there are more than 50 thousand American troops stationed in Japan, and American soldiers often get into trouble and offend the people. However, the Japanese government not only accepted the garrison, but also paid a huge "protection fee" according to the cost-sharing agreement of the US troops stationed in Japan. It is reported that in the five years from 2022, Japan will bear the cost of about 654.38+005.5 billion yen, an average annual increase of about 654.38+000 billion yen over the previous year.
The British "Financial Times" believes that Japanese military leaders are increasingly aware that long-term dependence on Washington has put Japan in a weak position in developing military technology. Therefore, the country decided to strengthen cooperation in weapons and military technology with the United States' "closest ally" Britain, which will not be opposed by the United States.
Japan is really not an ordinary country. In recent years, its military trend has become more and more worrying. One NATO country does not have enough troops and needs another NATO country.
Britain can gain more benefits. The article by Qatar Al Jazeera gives Britain three goals:
First, Britain and Japan signed a defense agreement, which is in line with the new British military doctrine expressed in the vision of "global Britain" after Britain left the European Union.
In this vision, Britain found a defensive card called "Pacific Shift Strategy". Before the Japanese military cooperation in the Pacific Ocean, Britain, the United States and Australia reached a "trilateral security partnership" aimed at building nuclear submarines to monitor the Pacific Ocean and "forming a deterrent weapon against China's actions in the region".
The Ocuss Agreement will allow Britain to acquire military bases in the Pacific Ocean and transfer its navy and nuclear fleet to Japanese ports.
Second, Japan has decided to increase its military budget to $31500 million in the next five years, an increase of 57%. This is a "budget that fascinates Britain". Therefore, Britain is eager to reach a huge deal with the Japanese army.
Third, in the next four years, the famous British eurofighter typhoon will retire. To this end, Britain has allocated a budget of more than 2 billion pounds to jointly develop the latest aircraft in the world with Japan and Italy, which needs the help of Japanese manufacturing technology.
The British military said that the project will be able to produce the latest, fastest and most powerful fighters known in the world. The analysis pointed out that this may be the reason why Britain and Japan seek to "ensure air superiority." Because "facing China, the air force is very important to Japan". As for London, it is to maintain "the dominant position of fighters in front of Russia."
The BBC also pointed out that it is meaningful for Britain, Japan and Italy to jointly develop a sixth-generation fighter aimed at the "Indo-Pacific region".
Aiming at "Indo-Pacific", the ability is questioned.
In fact, when it comes to "Indo-Pacific region", we know that behind the signing of the agreement between Japan and Britain, there is no need for a country to promote it-the United States, which continues to dominate the "Indo-Pacific strategy."
Don't forget, these G7 countries visited by Kishida also have a "dual identity", and they are all NATO members.
"Let the British army ranked fifth in the world join hands with the Japanese army ranked eighth in the world. Without the support of the United States, it would be impossible to sign this agreement, "said Al Jazeera web analytics.
The United States led the G7 countries and NATO member countries to make waves in the Indo-Pacific region, and Japan entered the role to actively cooperate with the drama of "unity", which is both a garrison and a defense cooperation, and opened the door for more NATO troops. This plot should not be easy to guess.
Japan's * * news agency even more bluntly pointed out that Japan and Britain's move was aimed at "the rise of China" and deepening security cooperation.
However, regarding the defense cooperation between Britain and Japan, The Times questioned its own country, and thought that the existence of dozens or hundreds of British soldiers and military equipment could change Japan's "confrontation with China" in view of the fact that "the United States is the guarantor to deter China".
"Defense cooperation between countries concerned should be conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, trust and cooperation among countries, and should not create imaginary enemies, let alone introduce the old thinking of group confrontation into the Asia-Pacific region." On June 5438+0 1, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference.
"Asia-Pacific is a highland for peaceful development, not an arena for geopolitical games. China is a partner of all countries and is not a challenge to any country. " Wang Wenbin stressed.