Former British Soldier Convicted in Espionage Case for Iran

Daniel Abed Khalife, a former soldier in the British Army, was found guilty on Thursday in a case involving the collection of sensitive information for individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and gathering names of personnel from the country's special forces. Mark Heywood, the prosecutor, told the jury at the Woolwich Crown Court that Khalife had been engaged in collecting sensitive information for two and a half years since May 2019. Khalife, who was discharged from the British Army after being charged, was also accused of placing a fake bomb on a table before fleeing from his barracks. He escaped from Wandsworth prison in London in late summer 2023 by strapping himself under a transport truck, leading to a brief manhunt across Britain for his capture. The 23-year-old Khalife was tried for collecting information potentially useful for the Islamic Republic and for the incident involving the fake bomb. However, he denied the charges, claiming to be a patriot and stating that he and his family despise the Islamic Republic of Iran, asserting that he intended to serve as a 'double agent' for British intelligence agencies. He also mentioned that he suffered a severe emotional blow when told he might not be able to obtain the necessary security clearances for intelligence work due to his Iranian heritage. Prosecutors stated that Khalife received about $2,000 at the direction of his handler (the person guiding him in these espionage activities) in 2019 and two weeks later anonymously emailed the British foreign intelligence service (MI6), introducing himself as a 'double agent.' Khalife joined the British Army shortly after turning 17, and according to the prosecutor, he immediately began contemplating espionage. In contrast, Khalife claimed that the information he provided to Iranian government agents was useless. Daniel Abed Khalife was acquitted in the case related to the fake bomb but found guilty on other charges. New charges against the former British soldier include sending a fake document to Iran and endangering the life of Nazanin Zaghari. The British soldier is accused of espionage for the IRGC, claiming to hate the Islamic Republic. From Facebook to Wandsworth; the espionage saga of the former British soldier for the Islamic Republic. The former British soldier accused of gathering information for the Islamic Republic claimed he wanted to be a 'double agent.' London police arrested the fugitive soldier accused of terrorist crimes.