Iran has sentenced to death CIA operative Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, who was earlier arrested by Iran’s intelligence forces on charges of committing acts of espionage on behalf of the US.

Iran has sentenced to death CIA operative Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, who was earlier arrested by Iran's intelligence forces on charges of committing acts of espionage on behalf of the US.

The verdict was issued by Tehran's Revolution Court on Monday after the defendant was found guilty of collaboration with the US government and its intelligence agency, the CIA, against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Amir Mirza Hekmati reportedly faces death penalty "for cooperating with the hostile country (US) and spying for the CIA," "A death sentence has been issued for Amir Mirza Hekmati for cooperating with the hostile government of America and spying for the CIA," ISNA quoted spokesman for the judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei as saying.

Mirzaei Hekmati was charged with attempting to infiltrate Iran's intelligence apparatus in efforts to implicate the Islamic Republic in sponsoring terrorism. The defendant was hired by the CIA in May 2009 to carry out espionage operations in Iran.

On December 17, Iran's Intelligence Ministry announced that it has arrested the CIA spy of Iranian descent, foiling an intricate American plot to carry out espionage activities in the Islamic Republic.

In a televised confession broadcast on the Iranian television a day later, Mirzaei Hekmati said he joined the US Army in 2001 and underwent decade-long intelligence training.

He added that he was sent to the US-run Bagram Airbase in eastern Afghanistan and given access to classified intelligence before flying to Tehran.

Hekmati served with the US Marines as an Arabic translator, and travelled to Iran some four months ago, said his father, adding that Amir was born in the State of Arizona in southwestern US and joined the Marines after he received his high school diploma.