- Iran has arrested more than 10 people since March for
spying on its atomic projects, the intelligence minister has said.
-
- Ali Yunesi claimed the spies had been working for America
and Israel and said three of them were working within the state nuclear
programme.
-
- He told the Iranian news agency IRNA: "More than
10 spies have been arrested this year [Iran's year begins in March]; three
of them staff of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran. They have been
working for the CIA and Mossad and were arrested in Tehran and Hormuzgan."
-
- He said the other detainees had not been working for
a government body.
-
- Israel and the United States accuse Iran of seeking nuclear
weapons. Tehran denies the charge, saying it needs nuclear power stations
to meet booming domestic electricity demand.
-
- A senior Israeli official said he knew nothing about
the arrests but added he suspected the timing of the revelation was intended
to whip up fears about a "Zionist threat" to distract from the
mounting pressure on Iran.
-
- The official said: "This is a way for the regime
to bolster support at home. The last time they uncovered a 'great spy ring'
was when they were under great pressure. This is always a good way for
them to justify their policies at home."
-
- Iran reached a deal with Britain, France and Germany
to freeze all enrichment activities from Nov. 22 but Iran is taking advantage
of a clause that permits Iran to finish some atomic work begun before the
suspension took effect.
-
- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004.
-
- http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/22/uiran.
xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/12/22/ixportaltop.html
|
