Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., December 13, 2008 Kislev 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 23:07 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  13
Last update - 19:49 13/12/2008
Report: Iran arrests nuclear employees suspected of spying
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: nuclear program, spies, iran 

A number of Iranians working for the Islamic Republic's contentious nuclear program were arrested by state security service agents this week, on suspicion of spying.

The arrests were disclosed in a report released Wednesday by Tabnak, an official Iranian news agency with close ties to the Revolutionary Guard - the body overseeing Iran's nuclear project.

The report did not detail how many people were arrested or on behalf of which states they were suspected of spying. Nor did it say which nuclear project or site the suspects were employed with or what positions they hold.
Advertisement
Last month, Tehran's official radio station announced that Iran had dismantled an espionage network allegedly linked to Israel's Mossad spy agency.

General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, said the alleged network was trying to collect information on Iran's nuclear program and the Guards' military operations as well as details on military and security officials.

Also last month, Tehran executed an Iranian businessman convicted of spying on the Islamic Republic's military on behalf of Israel, the judiciary said on Saturday.

Judicial spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi said Ali Ashtari was hanged on November 17 after being sentenced to death on June 30 by a revolutionary court in Tehran.

Ashtari, who was in his mid-40s, was a tradesman in electronic merchandise who supplied military, security and defense centers across the country with electronic devices.

Iranian authorities also recently arrested Hossein Derakhshan, a blogger who visited Israel in 2007, upon his arrival in Tehran from Canada. An Iranian news Website reported that Derakhshan, who also holds Canadian citizenship, admitted to being involved in espionage for Israel, but some believe the report of his confession merely aims to prepare the ground for his execution.

Related articles:
  • IN-DEPTH / How Israel managed to hinder Iran nuclear plans
  • Obama's atomic umbrella: U.S. nuclear strike if Iran nukes Israel
  • Egypt recalls Iran envoy after public protest against cooperation with Israel
  • Iran seeks death penalty for 3 accused of spying for Israel
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Off with your seat!
    Likud committee bumps Feiglin down to 36th on party ticket.
    Trotting for the Globe
    Israeli animated feature 'Waltz with Bashir' nominated for Golden Globe award.
      1.   Wow, so many Spies in Iran? 18:21  |  Moshe 11/12/08
      2.   Sadam`s Spirit Of Suspicion Has Possessed The Crazy IranianRegime 18:37  |  Lavi 11/12/08
      3.   Maybe Iran suffers from a persecution complex... 18:47  |  Esther 11/12/08
      4.   #1 18:48  |  An American 11/12/08
      5.   Keep It Up 21:03  |  The Hangman 11/12/08
      6.   Safeguard intelligence reports 21:43  |  Brod 11/12/08
      7.   Islamic Republic, Jewish State... How Pathetic! 22:06  |  Monitor 11/12/08
      8.   For Money! 01:56  |  BigBird 12/12/08
      9.   If you were a "French Resitance Fighter"? 03:43  |  Yuri 12/12/08
      10.   israel`s nukes 19:51  |  G 12/12/08
      11.   Iran is engaging in a Stalinist purge 19:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/12/08
      12.   #5, "keep it up!" 22:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/12/08
      13.   Regime preparing its people for war 22:08  |  Realist 13/12/08
     Read & React
    Iran irate after Sarkozy rules out shaking Ahmadinejad's hand
    Responses: 171
    Palestinians: Israel asked to annex 6.8% of West Bank
    Responses: 102
    IDF soldiers critically wound Palestinian youth with rubber-coated bullet
    Responses: 91
    Livni: It isn't possible to bring every soldier home
    Responses: 65
    Carter discusses Mideast peace prospects with Assad in Syria
    Responses: 70
    U.S. Army sends American-Israeli woman to Afghanistan
    Responses: 93


    More Headlines
    22:38 UN set to adopt resolution urging Israel, Palestinians to continue talks
    18:00 Barak: Shalit is one of the reasons to refrain from launching Gaza offensive
    22:54 Madoff Wall Street fraud threatens Jewish philanthropy
    21:33 Carter, in Damascus, predicts improved U.S.-Syria ties under Obama
    18:07 In Gulf meet, Gates warns U.S. opponents: Don't test Obama
    17:45 Iran: We have proof U.S. and Britain support terror group
    21:07 Top Defense Min. official heads to Cairo to discuss Gaza truce
    07:36 Palestinians: Israel asked to annex 6.8% of West Bank
    19:26 Israeli author Amos Oz: Arab-Israeli conflict kept alive be fanatics
    11:27 Rice: Bush not done working on Israeli-Palestinian issue
    07:47 IDF soldiers critically wound Palestinian youth with rubber-coated bullet
    12:59 Report: Group attacks Saudi airline office in Iran to protest Saudi peace plan
    06:12 Egyptian guards kill African man trying to cross into Israel
    17:16 Ahmadinejad: Israel at end of line, will soon fade away
    13:28 Amira Hass returns to Gaza after a two-year absence
    12:13 Palestinian poll: 40 percent of Gaza residents wish to emigrate
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved