Iran has sentenced a former senior defense official to death after convicting him on charges of spying for Britain.

According to the semi official Tasnim news agency, the judiciary said Ali Reza Akbari, who was deputy defense minister until 2001, was a key spy for British intelligence.

Tasnim also reported that he had spied on past nuclear talks between Iran and Western powers.

Britain called for the execution to be halted and for Akbari's immediate release.