SOURCE
Iran claims to have arrested 12 CIA agents and accused them of planning to strike at Iranian interests.
IRNA state media quoted an influential politician as saying that the agents were working in collusion with Israel.
Parviz Sorouri, who sits on the powerful foreign policy and national security committee, said the spy network aimed to damage Iran's security, military and nuclear sectors.
"The US and Zionist regime's espionage apparatuses were trying to damage Iran both from inside and outside with a heavy blow, using regional intelligence services," said Sorouri.
"Fortunately, with swift reaction by the Iranian intelligence department, the actions failed to bear fruit."
The lawmaker did not specify the nationality of the alleged agents, nor when or where they they had been arrested.
Iran periodically announces the capture or execution of what it claims are US or Israeli spies, and often no further information is released.
This current announcement follows the uncovering of an alleged CIA spy ring in Lebanon by Iran's ally, Hizbollah.
Fierce clashes between Iran and the West over its nuclear capabilities are commonplace; assassins, mystery bombs and late-night kidnappings have all been part of the escalating tension.
Last November, a nuclear worker was killed after a magnetic mine was attached to his car in Tehran, while a bomb killed 17 people at an ammunition depot near the capital earlier this month.
Iran's nuclear ambitions were thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks following the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on the "possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme".
This prompted Israel to announce further action and the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu promised air strikes on Tehran as a result.
While Iran continues to deny its nuclear programme is a military one, Western countries remain unconvinced.
Earlier this month, the UK announced its plans to move in line with US policy, and break all ties with Iranian banks - including the Central Bank of Iran.
