http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5258057.ece By Uzi Mahnaimi in Tel Aviv The Sunday Times November 30, 2008 A COMPUTER expert has been executed in Iran after he confessed to working for Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service. This provides a rare insight into the intense espionage activity inside the Islamic republic. Ali Ashtari, 43, a computer and hi-tech equipment buyer for Iran’s defence industry and nuclear programme, was hanged after admitting he worked for Israel. It is the first known conviction of an alleged Israeli agent in Iran for almost 10 years. Ashtari was trusted by senior officials to travel overseas to buy the advanced computers and other electronic equipment needed for the regime’s nuclear programme, which is reported to have already produced enough enriched uranium to make an atomic bomb. Behind their backs he allowed the software he bought to be subtly doctored by Israeli computer engineers before it was imported to Iran. Ashtari confessed: “Mossad’s goal was to sell specialised computer equipment through me to Iranian intelligence organisations.” According to surveillance experts, this allowed Israel to monitor computer systems bought by Ashtari, and insert bugs that could slow down Tehran’s weapons development or even sabotage it altogether. Ashtari revealed how he communicated with his Israeli controllers: “I received a laptop with encrypted software for fast e-mail communication,” he said. “They asked me to install bugging devices in the communications equipment I provided to my clients.” [...] _______________________________________________ Help InfoSecNews.org with a donation! http://www.infosecnews.org/donate.htmlReceived on Mon Dec 01 2008 - 01:09:45 PST
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