Iran condemns 'Israeli spy' to death

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran has sentenced to death a man found guilty of spying for Israel, state media reported Monday.

Tehran's Revolutionary Court convicted Ali Ashtari, 45, of spying for Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, in exchange for money, the news agencies said.

According to Ashtari's "confession," published by the news agency Fars, Ashtari was a salesman who obtained high-end but security-compromised electronic equipment from Mossad and sold them to military and defense centers in Iran.

During the trial prosecutors displayed spying tools that Mossad had allegedly provided, Iranian Student's News Agency said.

Ashtari can appeal his verdict, the Islamic Republic News Agency said.

Iran and Israel have been engaged in an escalating war of words.

Iran accuses Israel of trying to destabilize the republic. Israel has not ruled out military action to halt Iran's nuclear aspirations.