Iran claims 30 arrests in alleged CIA plot to recruit spies

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Iran claims 30 arrests in alleged CIA plot to recruit spies

The Associated Press Published Saturday, May 21, 2011 6:29AM EDT

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivers his speech for participants of the "International Conference on Global Alliance against Terrorism for a Just Peace", at the Presidency, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Text:

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's Intelligence Ministry says it has arrested at least 30 people allegedly linked to a spy network run by the CIA.

In a statement read on state TV Saturday, Iran's secret service says its agents uncovered activities of a CIA-run espionage network that sought to recruit Iranian spies through U.S. diplomatic missions that include the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Turkey.

The report didn't provide further details, but claimed the recruits had been asked to spy on Iran's research institutes, universities, nuclear programs and other sites.

Iranian authorities occasionally announce the arrest of people with alleged ties to foreign intelligence agencies, particularly the U.S., Britain and Israel.