“He passed on security information to the Israeli and American intelligence agencies about Iran’s armed forces, particularly the Guards,” the official added, according to Reuters. The convicted and sentenced man’s execution is "expected soon" Esmaili said.

“All the legal proceedings in the case of this spy ... had been carried out long before the martyrdom of Soleimani,” the statement underscored, describing his arrest in October 2018 after contact with foreign intelligence agencies was supposedly uncovered.

Over the past year Tehran has made multiple announcements of busting up spy networks being run by the Mossad and CIA, including claims last summer of detaining "17 spies working for the CIA" — some of which were sentenced to death, though few details are known. 

Previously Iran said Western intelligence was trying to penetrate facilities related to its nuclear program. This week’s announced death sentence is perhaps the first time someone stood specifically charged with passing information related to the late Quds force leader Soleimani.

It reveals something interesting: that the Iranians are no doubt actively looking for spy networks which had involvement in tracking Gen. Soleimani, or may have helped US-Israeli intelligence with the assassination. 

Recall that beginning two years ago Israeli defense and intelligence officials became increasingly vocal about putting a target on Soleimani’s back, essentially giving the 'green light’ to taking him out if the opportunity presented itself. 

However, Soleimani traveled as a diplomat or foreign dignitary, thus it didn’t appear he was overly cautious or expected the Americans to act so brazenly. Hence his entourage had passed through Baghdad International Airport essentially out in the open, which provided the opportunity for the Trump-ordered drone strike on a road leading out of the airport.