JERUSALEM (JTA) — Iran has arrested 30 people accused of spying for the United States.
The alleged spies were members of a CIA spy network, Iran’s security ministry said Saturday in a statement read on state-run television, according to reports.
"Due to the massive intelligence and counter-intelligence work by Iranian intelligence agents, a complex espionage and sabotage network linked to America’s spy organization was uncovered and dismantled," the statement said.
"Elite agents of the intelligence ministry in their confrontation with the CIA elements were able to arrest 30 America-linked spies through numerous intelligence and counter-intelligence operations."
The statement also said that Iran had identified 42 other U.S. spies on Iran in other Middle East countries including Malaysia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, and had fed misinformation to the CIA through double agents.
Spying is punishable by death in Iran.
