Iran cites Prince Harry's book in defending its decision to execute a British-Iranian citizen

• Iran hit back at UK criticism over its execution of a dual UK-Iran citizen.
• It said Prince Harry's claim to have killed 25 people in Afghanistan showed the UK could not criticize.

Iran blasted Prince Harry's claim that he killed more than two dozen people while serving in Afghanistan as it hit back against criticism of its execution of a British-Iranian citizen.

Iran's Foreign Ministry tweeted on Tuesday that the "British regime, whose royal family member, sees the killing of 25 innocent people as removal of chess pieces and has no regrets over the issue, and those who turn a blind eye to this war crime, are in no position to preach others on human rights."

Harry wrote in his book "Spare" that he killed 25 "enemy combatants" while serving in Afghanistan.

"It's not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me," he said.

Harry served two tours in Afghanistan: as an air controller between 2007 and 2008 and as an attack helicopter pilot between 2012 and 2013.

Iran was responding to criticism from the UK government after it executed UK-Iran dual citizen Alireza Akbari on Saturday, after accusing him of being a spy.

His family deny the allegation, and said that Akbari only confessed to it after being tortured, The Guardian reported.

The BBC claimed to have obtained an audio recording of Akbari saying he had been tortured and forced to "confess" to crimes he did not commit.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was "appalled" by the execution, adding: "This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people."

Iran has executed at least three other people in connection to protests that began in September, when a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died in police custody. She was arrested for not properly wearing a hijab, as required under Iran's strict laws.

Harry denied bragging about killing 25 people after his comments were taken badly by some members of the British military.