Iran sentences former deputy FM to 6 years in jail

A semiofficial news agency says a court has sentenced a former deputy foreign minister to six years in prison after convicting him of security charges.

Monday's ISNA agency report quotes Mohsen Aminzadeh's defense lawyer Abbas Shiri as saying his client was convicted of conspiring to "disturb security" and spreading propaganda against the Islamic establishment.

Aminzadeh served during former president Mohammad Khatami's time in office between 1997 and 2005. He is among the most senior former officials in a group of more 100 people on trial since August for their alleged role in street protests after a disputed presidential election in June.

The opposition has called for a fresh round of demonstrations on Thursday.