Iranian authorities claim to have arrested an American spy

Iranian authorities have announced that they have arrested an Iranian man who was spying for the United States.

State television, transmitting a statement from the Ministry of Intelligence, reported that the arrested person had been trained in American bases in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq, and that his intention was to provide false information to Iranian intelligence.

"A CIA agent of Iranian nationality began his mission after being trained in the use of weapons.

However, Iranian counterintelligence agents identified him and discovered his espionage activities," the ministry said in a statement.

He was supposed to start the mission from the Afghan base in Bagram, and Iranian intelligence helped him cross the border and then arrested him.

Iranian authorities announced in May that they had arrested 30 people on suspicion of spying for the US, and on Tuesday 15 people were charged with spying for Israel and the US.

Spying in Iran is punishable by death.

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