Accessibility links

Breaking News

Iran Jails Senior Reformer For Six Years


Former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh (left) seen with another defendant, reformist journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi, during a hearing before the revolutionary court in Tehran in August.
Former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh (left) seen with another defendant, reformist journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi, during a hearing before the revolutionary court in Tehran in August.
TEHRAN (Reuters) -- An Iranian court has sentenced a reformist former deputy foreign minister to six years in jail over his role in unrest that erupted after last year's disputed election, the ISNA news agency reported.

Mohsen Aminzadeh was accused of taking part in illegal gatherings, planning to disturb Iran's security, and also of spreading propaganda against the Islamic government system in interviews with foreign media, ISNA said, quoting his lawyer.

Aminzadeh was a prominent supporter of opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi in the June poll, which Musavi says was rigged to secure hard-line President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's reelection.

The authorities have rejected the charge and portrayed post-election protests as Western-backed.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG