Iranian authorities have arrested a European on suspicion of espionage, local media reported on Friday, as war rages between the Islamic republic and its arch-foe Israel.
“A European citizen who sought to spy on sensitive areas of the country” was arrested in southwestern Iran, Tasnim news agency said, without specifying the nationality of the suspect or the arrest date.
“He had been visiting the country as a tourist at the time of the brutal attack by the Zionist regime,” it added, referring to Israel’s June 13 strikes that triggered the war.
The Mehr news agency carried a similar report, citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guards.
Tasnim said the arrest was made by the Guards intelligence branch in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.
Iran regularly announces arrests of suspected spies. Several have been executed in recent weeks.
On Thursday, Iranian police announced the arrest of 24 people accused of spying for Israel and of seeking to tarnish the country’s image.
Several citizens and dual nationals of European countries are detained in Iran.
Some Western governments have accused Tehran of detaining foreigners to use as bargaining counters to secure the release of Iranians held in the West.
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