Iran arrests third Israel-linked spy network in less than a week

The Iranian authorities announced, on Monday, the arrest of key members of the Baha’i Sect, on charges of spying for Israel, the third arrest of its kind within a week.

The Iranian authorities in Tehran said the Iranian security forces have arrested senior leaders in a Baha’i spy network who are directly linked to the Israeli Universal House of Justice, a nine-member supreme ruling body of the Baha’i faith.

A statement issued by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence said the suspects collected information and transferred it to their contacts at the Baha’i House of Justice in Israel.

“Reliable intelligence documents revealed that the main centre in Israel had informed the Iranian [spy] network of the strategy to reorganise the Baha’i community in Iran under the title of the “Aggressive Propaganda Line” plan, and entrusted it with the task of collecting information with special objectives” the Ministry added.

Iranian media outlets said the arrests were carried out on Sunday, when three members of the former Baha’i community leadership were arrested.

According to the Iranian authorities, the suspects initiated protests against the headscarf law in Iran, and incited the Baha’i community in Iran against the authorities in Tehran.

Last Thursday, Iranian media reported that the security authorities in Tehran had arrested an Israel- linked spy network consisting of five individuals.

READ: Iran: Those detained due to ties to Israel belong to a banned Kurdish faction

According to the Iranian Labour News Agency, the five suspects are the leader of the cell and four of his associates, who are part of the Israeli authorities, and were in contact with the Head of the Israeli Mossad.

Noor News, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, had previously reported that the Iranian authorities had arrested Israel-linked spies while planting explosives in a “very sensitive” site in Isfahan province, hours before planning to detonate it.

The website stated that the cell entered Iran months ago from Iraqi Kurdistan, after receiving training in Africa under the Mossad supervision.

In July, the New York Times reported that a senior Revolutionary Guards officer, Brigadier General, Ali Nasseri, had been secretly arrested on charges of spying for Israel.

Two months ago, the newspaper reported that tens of security officials involved in Iran’s missile program were arrested on suspicion of leaking classified information to Israel.