Iran arrests Israeli agents, seizes arms meant for ‘riots’

Tehran: Iran’s intelligence ministry said on Tuesday it has arrested a network of agents working for arch-enemy Israel and seized a weapons cache meant to be used in "riots", state television reported.

The report follows protests over water shortages that erupted more than 10 days ago in the southwest of the country, where, according to Iranian media, at least four people were killed. Officials have accused "opportunists" and "rioters" of shooting at demonstrators and security forces during the gatherings.

"A network of agents of the Zionist regime’s spy agency (Mossad) was arrested... after entering from the country’s western border," a ministry official was quoted as saying by the broadcaster. Iran borders Turkey and Iraq to the west.

A "cache of weapons and ammunition" meant to be used by "Mossad operatives... in urban riots and for assassination" was also seized, the unnamed official added, without elaborating.