Iran jails nuclear negotiator on spying charges

TEHRAN - Iran's judiciary spokesman on Sunday confirmed five-year jail sentence for an Iranian nuclear negotiator, Tasnim news agency reported.

A member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team arrested recently by the country's intelligence forces has been sentenced to five years in jail on espionage charges, Iranian Judiciary's Spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying.

"The conviction of (Abdol-Rasool) Dorri Najaf Abadi on charges of spying for foreign intelligence services and leaking information have been upheld," Ejei said speaking at a press conference in Tehran.

Back in May, the judiciary spokesman had announced that Dorri Najaf Abadi had been sentenced to a prison term, but added that he could not provide details since the verdict could be appealed.

He added that Dorri Najaf Abadi holds a dual citizenship and is convicted on charges of spying for two foreign intelligence services, without further elaboration.

The final verdict was upheld after his case was reviewed by an appeals court, Ejei added.

The news of arrest of the former member of the negotiating team was first announced by the judiciary spokesperson in August 2016.