Former deputy president Mohammad Ali Najafi, who had also served as Tehran's mayor for eight months, found guilty of murdering his wife.
Najafi is a prominent so-called reformist figure in Iran.
Iran's judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili stated on Tuesday that Najafi was convicted of first-degree murder for killing his second wife Mitra Ostad by firearm, and sentenced to death according the Islamic law of Qasas (an eye for an eye.)
According to the law, Najafi and his lawyer can appeal the verdict within 20 days.
Hours after shooting his wife to death, the high-ranking reformist figure, surrendered to police officers in May, and confessed that he had killed his wife. In a very bizarre act, Iran's state TV network aired the whole process of confession at the police station.
Najafi who was one of presidential deputies during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, elected as Tehran's mayor in August 2017. He resigned after eight months.
Najafi’s fellow reformists accused the victim and claimed she was the agent of IRGC intelligence service. According to their narrative, “Ostad was actually hired by intelligence service of IRGC to marry Najafi in order to be able to get information from him."
Though carrying a firearm is forbidden in Iran, Iranian officials and pro-regime figures feel free using their guns without any official permission.
