Rishi Sunak condemns "cowardly" execution of British-Iranian Alireza Akbari

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned Iran’s “callous and cowardly” decision to execute British-Iranian dual national Alireza Akbari.

The British prime minister said he was “appalled” by Tehran’s “barbaric regime” after its state media announced the killing, according to Breaking News.

UK foreign secretary James Cleverly vowed that the action taken by Iran would “not stand unchallenged” by the UK.

Iranian state media announced that Mr Akbari had been put to death.

Mr Akbari was an Iranian former deputy defence minister who was arrested in 2019 and accused of espionage for MI6 related to past nuclear talks between Iran and western nations, according to reports.

He denied the charge and said he was tortured and forced to confess on camera to crimes he did not commit, BBC Persian reported.

Mr Sunak, writing on Twitter, said: “I am appalled by the execution of British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari in Iran.

“This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people.

“My thoughts are with Alireza’s friends and family.”

Also taking to Twitter, Mr Cleverly said: “Iran has executed a British national.

“This barbaric act deserves condemnation in the strongest possible terms.

“This will not stand unchallenged. My thoughts are with Alireza Akbari’s family.”

The UK foreign secretary had warned Tehran that London was watching the case “closely” and called on the Middle East nation not to follow through with its threat.