Iran claims US spy arrest

2011-12-17 18:54

Tehran - Iran's Intelligence Ministry said on Saturday that its agents have arrested a person of Iranian origin on suspicion of spying for the US.

The ministry said in a statement broadcast on state TV that Iran's secret services identified the suspect at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Bagram is the main base for American and other international forces outside Kabul.

"The individual was put under the watch of Iran's intelligence and was being pursued after crossing into our country and arrested simultaneously as he began his espionage mission," the statement said.

It said the suspect, which it didn't identify by name, sought to infiltrate into Iran's secret services and funnel false information to deceive Iranian intelligence.

The report alleged the attempted infiltration was part of a complicated intelligence battle the US has launched against Iran.

The ministry claimed the suspect has already served in the US Army's intelligence units and spent time at US military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Iran periodically announces the capture or execution of alleged US or Israeli spies, and often no further information is released.

- AP