Iranian Authorities Claim to Have Dismantled Spy Network

The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence claims it had arrested individuals linked to the foreign spy agency of a “hostile” country. 

The individuals were collecting sensitive information about Iranian officials traveling abroad, the ministry said in a May 23 statement carried by Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC). 

"To gather information about these individuals, the organization used contacts and executive agents within various organizations and institutions across the country," the statement said. 

It did not name any country and did not identify the suspects.

Iranian intelligence bodies regularly announce the arrest of spies without further reporting their fates.

The latest announcement by the Ministry of Intelligence comes after Ali Shamkhani stepped down from the post of secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council earlier this week.

Also on May 23, Turkish media reported the arrest of 13 individuals in the country suspected of being connected to a spy network affiliated with Mossad, the Israeli spy agency. 

The network was allegedly involved in espionage activities targeting Iranian-related companies.