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The trial of two men accused of plotting to attack Kennedy International Airport took an unexpected twist on Wednesday when prosecutors suggested that one of the men, a former government official in Guyana, spent decades secretly working as an Iranian spy — passing along information about the country’s economy, foreign policy and military to Iranian officials.

The former government official, Abdul Kadir, admitted under cross-examination that he drafted regular reports for the Iranian ambassador to Venezuela, which included details like the low morale in the Guyanese army. The documents he drafted included a five-year development plan to promote Islam in Guyana, which included references to infiltrating the military, police and other government agencies.

Mr. Kadir appeared surprised by the direction of the questioning, and after initially denying that he was in contact with Iranian officials, he admitted to it after being confronted with the material he had written. Nevertheless he said he was not a spy, saying he was focused instead on promoting Islam.

“Is it fair to say you’re a spy for the Iranian government?” asked Marshall L. Miller, the lead federal prosecutor on the case.