"Especially today, it’s important for countries, especially democracies, to say, clearly... that sometimes you have to protect democracy and sometimes it requires doing ugly things.”
The plea agreement stipulates that Abu al-Qia'an will spend twelve months in prison, as he poses no immediate security threat.
The phone of Russian independent media figure Galina Timchenko had reportedly been infected using spyware built by the Israeli company NSO Group.
The use of spyware by law enforcement had been rationalized through the 1979 Wiretapping Law, but the petition argued that the old law was not technologically up to date and didn't cover malware.
"This sabotage was carried out under the guidance of the Zionist intelligence services and their agents," Iranian state TV said.
The former security officials contended that there was no reason why the committee should be created now when the prime minister is facing legal proceedings.
The committee, proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, has been authorized by the government to inspect the conduct of the police and State Attorney's Office in using spyware.
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