Tehran, April 15 -- Iranian authorities claim to have apprehended 35 individuals on various charges ranging from espionage to illegal trafficking. According to the Iranian state media Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the group includes suspects described by the Intelligence Ministry as being "Mossad-linked," alongside arms smugglers and affiliates of separatist organisations.

The ministry confirmed that the security operations were widespread, stating that the arrests were made "in six provinces of the country." The statement, carried by IRNA, noted that the sweep targeted multiple threats to national security simultaneously.

These arrests coincide with high-level admissions regarding the extent of foreign intelligence penetration w...