A recently dismantled espionage ring affiliated to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had infiltrated the country's state institutions, Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi said, Press TV reported with reference to IRNA.
Moslehi said some of the spies were unaware that they were working for the intelligence services of the United States and Britain, adding that they have made confessions in this regard.
The Iranian intelligence minister stated out that certain agents were working for the intelligence services of the enemy under the pretext of conducting scientific activities.
However, he expressed confidence that all the enemy plots to promote Islamophobia and Iranophobia would "end in favor of Islam."
On May 21, Iran's Intelligence Ministry issued a statement saying that it had uncovered and dismantled an espionage and sabotage network and arrested 30 individuals suspected of spying for the United States.
The Intelligence Ministry also stated that 42 CIA operatives were identified in connection with the spy network.
According to the statement, the CIA operatives had gathered information from universities and scientific research centers and the nuclear energy, aerospace, defense, and biotechnology industries.