ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iranian intelligence ministry on Tuesday claimed that a foreign-backed espionage network attempting to gather sensitive intelligence from authorities was dismantled in the country and its affiliates were arrested.
An unidentified foreign intelligence network “had been collecting information on Iranians traveling to and from the country, including individuals who held key positions in government departments or had access to important data in sensitive institutions,” state media reported, citing a statement by Iran’s intelligence ministry.
According to the ministry, the agents attempted to take advantage of information about people traveling to and from the country and deliver the data to “the foreign intelligence service in question.”
They were arrested after their locations were identified inside Iran, the ministry said.
Iranian authorities frequently carry out missions to arrest alleged spy networks in the country, often accusing Israel of being behind the espionage groups. Both countries are fierce rivals and consider each other as their greatest enemy.
The Iranian government has also blamed Kurdish authorities in the Kurdistan Region for failing to reinforce its side of the border with the Islamic republic, allowing alleged “infiltrators” to cross into the country and carry out espionage activities.
On Sunday, the intelligence ministry announced that its forces had dismantled a network of Israeli spies in the west of the country.
In January, Iran claimed it dismantled two teams of Israeli spies in several provinces and foiled their plot to assassinate a military official and conduct sabotage operations.
Another network of agents allegedly working for the Israeli intelligence (Mossad) was arrested last year while allegedly attempting to carry out “terrorist” acts in the Islamic republic.
