[JURIST] An Iranian judiciary spokesman announced on Sunday that a nuclear scientist was executed for providing the US with state secrets. Shahram Amir previously went missing [CNN report] in 2009 while embarking on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Amir reemerged in the US in 2010 and returned to Tehran, claiming that he had been abducted by the CIA to release secrets about Iran’s nuclear program. US officials argued that Amir had willingly defected, and Amir was soon after detained and charged with treason and espionage. After lower courts sentenced Amir to death, the Iranian High Court reviewed Amir’s case and affirmed the conviction.

Over the past several years Iran has been subject to numerous sanctions for its contentious nuclear program. Iranian leaders have repeatedly claimed [JURIST report] that the developing nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the international community, Israel in particular, worries that Iran’s enrichment program was designed for military purposes. In January Iran condemned [JURIST report] the US for imposing new sanctions in connection with the country’s missile defense program.The US and France agreed [JURIST report] in March 2015 to strengthen nuclear talks with Iran to persuade the nation to restrain its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions and the following April Iran agreed [JURIST report] to a framework deal to restrict its nuclear plan. Developments in this regard were largely positive and resulted in subtle improvement in ties between the US and Iran. In July 2015, the UN International Atomic Energy Agency reported [JURIST report] that Iran has been keeping its commitment as part of a preliminary nuclear deal from 2013 barring Iran from expanding nuclear programs during negotiations. The Iranian Parliament accepted [JURIST report] the nuclear agreement the following October and moved the process on to the Guardian Council [BBC backgrounder], which determined [FRE/RL report] the legislation was consistent with the constitution and Islamic law.