Iran says it has arrested U.S. spy

DPA and The Associated Press

Iran has arrested an Iranian agent working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, the country's intelligence service said in a statement Saturday.

The unnamed Iranian - believed to be a U.S. citizen - had been trained by the CIA and dispatched to Bagram military base in Afghanistan, from where he headed to Iran for espionage work, read the statement carried by ISNA news agency.

The statement further said that the Iranian agents had already found out in Afghanistan about the man's mission, observed him until he crossed the Iranian border, and then arrested him.

Further details about the CIA agent would be disclosed within the next few days, the statement added.

Iran's intelligence service had also announced last month that 12 people were arrested on charges of espionage for Western secret agencies, including the CIA.

Iran frequently announces the arrest of spies and espionage rings linked to the U.S. or Israel, but without presenting any evidence.

Also on Saturday, Iran's foreign minister said his country deliberately delayed its announcement that it had captured an American surveillance drone to test U.S. reaction.

Ali Akbar Salehi said Iran finally went public with its possession of the RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone to disprove contradictory statements from U.S. officials.