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Convicted in Iran of spying for Israel and sentenced to death, Ali Ashtari was interviewed on Iranian TV Monday, YNet reported Tuesday.[1] -- Ali Ashtari described how he communicated with Mossad and how he used his position as computer salesman to but devices, said Dudi Cohen, who expressed surprise that Ashtari did not seem to have been tortured or abused: "Throughout the interview Ashtari is calm and composed — though one might expect someone convicted of an offense as grievous as spying for Israel to undergo physical or psychological torture, and that some sign of this would be apparent in his demeanor." -- The Washington Post said last week that the Ashtari case "was the country's first known conviction for espionage linked to Israel in almost a decade."[2] -- A Jun. 29 AFP piece noted that Ashtari "still has time to appeal the verdict with a higher court," and quoted an unnamed Iranian intelligence official who said that "some of our research projects have failed because of the use of this equipment. In some cases, failures are irreversible and big."[3] -- The French version of the AFP article included these sentences, omitted from the English version posted on the web: "In May 2007 the American TV network CBS referred to operations to sabotage Iran's nuclear program by Western intelligence agencies that arranged to furnish defective equipment to Iran. The head of Iran's atomic program, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, said in January 2007 that electrical equipment imported from Turkey had been "trafficked" and had been the cause for the destruction of fifty uranium-enriching centrifuges in Natanz in 2006." -- The Fars News Agency reported on Jun. 30 that Ashtari was arrested in 2007, 18 months ago, though his case was made public only on Saturday.[4] -- The three Mossad agents — Jacques, Charles, and Tony — "apparently presented themselves as bankers who worked for the Fortis Bank (a Belgium bank ranked among Europe's top 20 financial institutions), and told him they were interested in exploring a business venture. -- The three offered him an unofficial loan — 'which struck me as odd' — and proceeded to give him a laptop —'which could send and receive encrypted email' — as well as two DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) devices with a satellite hookup, 'to give to my Iranian clients. I think those were wired.' -- According to court records, Ashtari then said that the Mossad gave him $50,000 as a business loan, 'to buy merchandise to sell in Iran,' and paid for all of his travel expenses." -- The FNA account is accompanied by photographs of the trial and of the some evidence used against Ashtari....

** In interview with Iranian television, man convicted of spying for Israel exposes tactics and technology used by his Mossad handlers **

The Iranian sentenced to death after being convicted of spying for Israel tells of his dealings with the Mossad in an interview with Iranian television on Monday.

The spy, Ali Ashtari, detailed the demands made of him by his Mossad handlers, who he said took advantage of his occupation as a computer broker whose clientele included top Iranian military officials.

"I was given a laptop computer so I could communicate with him and write to him by encoded and ciphered email, and he gave me two encrypted communication devices that I was to give to my clients, to test them out," said Ashtari, adding that he was told by his handlers to plant bugging equipment in the electronics he sold to his customers.

"As for the three military acquisition experts who were in contact with me, they (the handlers) asked me to bring them abroad under any possible pretext: tourism, special seminars, or exhibitions," said Ashtari.

In a staged interview in the grand tradition of Iran's state-owned media, the spy was asked "if a senior military official asks to trade in an appliance or have it fixed, what do you do with it and how do you switch it?"

In response Ashtari said: "I take it to the company and it agrees to exchange or fix the appliance for him. The senior official who gave me the appliance becomes an intelligence source without his knowledge and I pass that information on, and tell them he has given me his equipment."

Ashtari goes on to explain that by bugging GPS (Global Positioning System) units with, Mossad agents were able to "see where that person was, know what he has and where he can be found."

Throughout the interview Ashtari is calm and composed -- though one might expect someone convicted of an offense as grievous as spying for Israel to undergo physical or psychological torture, and that some sign of this would be apparent in his demeanor.

Israel has so far declined to respond to the affair save for a laconic statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry saying it was unaware of the case.

By putting a convicted spy sentenced to death on display at the present time is undoubtedly an attempt by Iran to deter other Iranian citizens from aiding foreign operations in exchange for money.

Secondly, Iran is also interested in showing that in the ongoing espionage war between Tehran and the West it has the upper hand and can thwart attempts by foreign spy agencies to infiltrate Iran and obtain intelligence regarding its military or nuclear programs.

A special Iranian court on Monday sentenced an Iranian businessman to death on charges of spying for Israel, state television said. It was the country's first known conviction for espionage linked to Israel in almost a decade.

Ali Ashtari, 45, an electronics salesman, had a job supplying military, security, and defense centers across the country, according to the Web site of Iranian state TV. It quoted an unnamed intelligence official as saying Ashtari "relayed sensitive information" on these centers, and on Iran's atomic energy agency, to Israeli intelligence officers.

An Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, said officials in Israel had no knowledge of the case.

The Revolutionary Court in Tehran issued the sentence at a time of high tension with Israel over Iran's nuclear program.

TEHRAN -- Iran has sentenced to death an Iranian telecoms salesman found guilty of spying for Israel, official media reported on Monday, in a rare move amid spiralling tensions between the archfoes.

"Ali Ashtari, 45, was convicted of being spy for Israel and was sentenced to death by the revolutionary court," the official IRNA news agency reported.

Ashtari was accused of involvement in a plot run by the Israeli secret services to intercept the communications of Iranian officials working in the military and its contested nuclear program.

"This is an initial verdict and should receive final approval. The defendant can appeal," the Fars news agency quoted an unnamed intelligence official as saying.

"He fell into the trap of the foreign intelligence services. They took advantage of his situation. They asked him to cooperate and he cooperated," the Mehr news agency quoted an intelligence source as saying.

The verdict comes amid an intensifying war of words between Iran and its regional arch enemy Israel, which has never ruled out military action to halt Iran's nuclear drive which the West fears could be used to make the bomb.

Tehran insists its nuclear program is only aimed at producing electricity and angrily points to Israel's widely-believed status as the sole -- if undeclared -- nuclear weapons power in the Middle East region.

According to Ashtari's "confession," published in full by Fars, he sold telecoms equipment which sought to help the Israeli intelligence service Mossad access secret information from Iranian officials.

Mossad gave him 50,000 dollars to buy Internet cables and satellite phones and then sell them on to "special customers" in the hope of enabling Israel to spy on their communications, Ashtari said.

The intelligence official quoted by the Mehr news agency said Ashtari had contacts with the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization and military bodies.

"His action was definitely one of treason because some of our research projects have failed because of the use of this equipment," said the official.

"In some cases, failures are irreversible and big." The source did not give details about which projects had been affected.

State television broadcast pictures of Ashtari at his trial, showing a balding, rotund and surprisingly relaxed-looking man. The pictures also showed the satellite phone, laptop, and other equipment allegedly used in his work.

His handlers "introduced themselves as Jacques, Charles, and Tony," Ashtari said.

"I had meetings in Thailand, Turkey, and Switzerland with them. They gave me some equipment including a laptop through which I could send encrypted emails," he said.

They wanted "me to sell these terminals in Iran to my special customers so they could hack into this equipment.

"I am not sure what they intended to do as before I sold these to my customers, I was arrested," he added.

Trials against Iranians accused of spying for Israel are a rarity, despite the enmity between the two states.

The most prominent previous case came in 2000 when 10 Iranian Jews and two Muslims received jail terms of between four and 13 years on charges of working for an Israeli spy ring.

They were all subsequently freed but the case caused a considerable international outcry.

TEHRAN -- An Iranian revolutionary court sentenced a man to death Monday on charges of spying for Israel. It was the country's first known conviction for espionage linked to Israel in almost a decade.

Ali Ashtari, a 45-year-old salesman of electronic merchandise, had a job supplying military, security, and defense centers across the country with electronic devices.

An unnamed intelligence official told the state-run TV that Ashtari "relayed sensitive information on military, defense, and research centers" to Israeli intelligence officers.

Ashtari, who was arrested in 2007, tried to "create a link" between Iranian experts and Israeli agents, the unnamed Iranian official said.

Ashtari, who was arrested about 18 months ago by the Iranian Intelligence, admitted during the court session that he had met with three Mossad agents abroad.

Once the prosecution presented the court with various wiretapping equipment used by Ashtari in his espionage activities, he reportedly confessed, pled guilty on all charges, and expressed remorse for his actions.

"Iran is too intelligent to believe the lies the enemy's agents are trying to tell it," Ashtari told reporters at the courthouse.

Ashtari further told reporters that his business was based mostly on importing wireless communication devices from Dubai, "since besides imports I was also doing some planning and consulting work, so they (Israel) asked me about the communications' infrastructure in Iran."

According to him, "The Mossad wanted to use me to sell marked goods to the Iranian Intelligence." He told the court he had contact with three Mossad agents, "Jacques, Charles, and Tony," and that they met several times, in Thailand, Turkey, and Switzerland.

The three apparently presented themselves as bankers who worked for the Fortis Bank (a Belgium bank ranked among Europe's top 20 financial institutions), and told him they were interested in exploring a business venture.

The three offered him an unofficial loan -- "which struck me as odd" -- and proceeded to give him a laptop -- "which could send and receive encrypted email" -- as well as two DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) devices with a satellite hookup, "to give to my Iranian clients. I think those were wired."

According to court records, Ashtari then said that the Mossad gave him $50,000 as a business loan, "to buy merchandise to sell in Iran," and paid for all of his travel expenses.

"After six or seven meetings they invited me to Switzerland and said they wanted to help me get medical treatments, because I have a heart problem. But when I got there they had me undergo a polygraph test. They wanted to make sure I wasn't working for the Iranian Intelligence and that I have no military record."

Ashtari's arrest was made public on Saturday, when FNA reported that an Iranian national was arrested for allegedly spying for Israel.

Under Iranian law, Ashtari has 20 days to appeal the verdict, which was handed down Sunday.

Iran and Israel have long been enemies. But the ruling against Ashtari is the first time since 2000 that an Iranian court has convicted and sentenced an Iranian citizen on charges of espionage for Israel.

It was handed down by Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles security issues.

A closed-door trial in 2000 convicted 10 Iranian Jews of spying for Israel and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from four to 13 years. All were released before serving out their full sentences.

The material that Ashtari allegedly passed to Israeli intelligence officials also included information on Iran's Atomic Energy Organization.

Israel and its close ally the United States accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, while they have never presented any corroborative document to substantiate their allegations. Iran vehemently denies the charges, insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Tehran stresses that the country has always pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number of Iranian population, whose fossil fuel would eventually run dry.

Iran has also insisted that it would continue enriching uranium because it needs to provide fuel to a 300-megawatt light-water reactor it is building in the southwestern town of Darkhoveyn as well as its first nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr.

Tel Aviv and Washington have recently intensified their threats to launch military action against Iran to make Tehran drop what they allege to be a non-peaceful nuclear program, while a recent report by 16 U.S. intelligence bodies endorsed the civilian nature of Iran's programs.

Following the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) and similar reports by the IAEA head -- one in November and the other one in February -- which praised Iran's truthfulness about key aspects of its past nuclear activities and announced settlement of outstanding issues with Tehran, any effort to impose further sanctions or launch military attack on Iran seems to be completely irrational.

In 1981, an Israeli air attack destroyed an unfinished nuclear reactor in Iraq. Israel also hit a suspected nuclear facility in Syria in September.

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, warned in a newspaper interview last week that if attacked, Iran would strike back -- barraging Israel with missiles and choking off a key oil transit point in the Persian Gulf.