Iran ‘prepares for execution’ of Britain’s dual citizenship: Tehran insists family of convicted former defense secretary go to prison for ‘final visit’ after he was found guilty of spying for MI6

Tehran has sentenced a British-Iranian former government official to death for allegedly spying for MI6.

Alireza Akbari, who has been behind bars for three years, will be executed after being found guilty of spying on behalf of the UK, which he denies.

The British Foreign Office has called for the immediate release of the dual citizen.

Mr Akbari’s wife, Maryam, said an officer had asked her to visit her husband in prison for a “last meeting” before the assassination.

He was also transferred to solitary confinement, a sign that execution was imminent after the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death.

However, there are no details on the specific charges and trials he faced.

An audio message broadcast by BBC Persia from Mr. Akbari claims he was tortured and forced to confess on camera to crimes he did not commit.

He says he was forced to take psychedelic drugs and was interrogated for 10 months.

The Iranian secret service described the politician as “one of the most important agents of the British spy service”.

He previously worked in Iran’s military and security establishments and holds joint Iranian-UK citizenship.

From 1997 to 2005, he was International Deputy Secretary of Defense under two-star General Ali Shamkhani.

Shamkhani is the current secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, an important decision-making body.

Iranian intelligence has described the politician (pictured) as “one of the top agents of the British spy service”.

Some believe the allegations against Mr. Akbari may have been politically motivated by Shamkhani’s rivals.

Iran claims that after being identified as a spy, Mr Akbari was used by Tehran authorities to trick Britain with “targeted intelligence”.

At one point Mr Akbari was in Europe but said he had left Iran legally and had economic interests in several companies on the continent.

But Iran has accused him of “running away” and running a “front company,” and his financial lawyers have been accused of being intelligence agents.

A spokesman for Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We support Mr Akbari’s family and have repeatedly raised his case with the Iranian authorities.

“Our priority is to secure his immediate release and we have reiterated our request for urgent consular access.”