13 in Iranian Spy Case Will Get Fair Trial, Minister Says
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi gave indirect assurances Friday that his country will not execute 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for the United States and Israel.
Kharrazi, in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, told reporters that the Iranian judiciary has pledged a fair trial for all those accused of espionage, who include Iranian Muslims as well as the 13 Jews. He said Iran does not carry out capital punishment for crimes committed in peacetime, although spying can be a capital crime under Iranian law.
The fate of the 13 Jews, among other issues, is critical to attempts to begin a dialogue between the Clinton administration and the Tehran government, headed since May 1997 by a reform-minded president, Mohammad Khatami. The case is widely seen in the West as a test of Khatami’s ability to stand up to hard-liners in Tehran.
Iran has come under international pressure in recent months to free the Jews. This has prompted Tehran to push for a delay in the trials until a full investigation is completed.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
