On Saturday, the Intelligence Ministry announced its agents had broken up a spy network linked to the CIA and arrested 30 U.S.-linked spies. It further said it identified 42 CIA intelligence officers in different countries through carrying out major intelligence and counter-espionage operations at home and abroad. The Ministry also stated that a number of CIA intelligence officers established the network in several countries and started setting various traps for Iranian citizens to elicit information from them and convince them to spy for the United States.
Moslehi, who was speaking to reporters on Sunday, said the CIA thought it could trap students who go abroad for educational purposes, although some were unfortunately deceived by the spy agency.
He also said the U.S. was trying to gather information about various sectors of Iran’s energy industry, shipping companies, airports and customs service.
Asked if the U.S. had succeeded to obtain information from these people, he said, “They could not do it the way they wanted”.
Moslehi also said certain people have informed the Intelligence Ministry that they were contacted by CIA agents asking them to cooperate in espionage activities.
He went on to say no official was among the arrested people and that most of the arrested people were ones who travel abroad for educations purposes.
AA/PA
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MNA