Western spy rings exposed, Iran says

Iran said Saturday that it had uncovered spy rings organized by the United States and its Western allies. A statement read on state-run television said the espionage networks were made up of “infiltrating elements from Iraq’s occupiers.”

The Intelligence Ministry has “succeeded in identifying and striking blows at several spy networks consisting of infiltrating elements from Iraq’s occupiers in western, southwestern and central Iran,” said the statement, referring to the United States and its allies.

The broadcast did not elaborate, saying further details would be published within days.

The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said the uncovered networks “enjoyed guidance from intelligence services of the occupying powers in Iraq” and also that “Iraqi groups” were “involved in the case.”

The White House said it does not confirm nor deny allegations about intelligence matters.

“We urge Iran to play a positive role in Iraq ... and stop blaming everyone else for problems they are only bringing on themselves,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino.

A British Foreign Office spokesman said, “This is the first we’ve heard of any such claims, and we would obviously want to know more about what lies behind the claims.”

Since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Tehran has often accused the United States and Britain of trying to undermine Iran’s security.

The allegations Saturday came two days before American and Iranian ambassadors were to meet in Baghdad to discuss ways to ease the crisis in Iraq. It is unclear how the announcement will affect those talks, although it clearly reflects a toughening of Iran’s stand.

The talks scheduled Monday in Baghdad will offer a rare one-on-one forum for the two countries, which broke off formal relations after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The agenda is expected to be limited to Iraqi affairs.

Iranian officials have raised concerns that Washington could incite members of the Islamic Republic’s many ethnic and religious minorities as pressure points against the Shiite Muslim-led government in Tehran.