This photo shows the traffic on Azadi street in Iran's capital Tehran on April 20, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)
DUBAI/JERUSALEM – Iran
said on Tuesday its security forces had arrested a network of agents
working for Israel and had seized a cache of weapons it said were
planned for use during recent unrest sparked by water shortages in the
Islamic Republic, state media reported.
Iran
often accuses its enemies or rivals abroad, such as Israel, the United
States and Saudi Arabia, of trying to destabilize the country by stoking
protests and violence.
Tuesday's
announcement came after nearly two weeks of protests over water
shortages, mostly in southwest Iran, which have turned political and
spread to other areas.
Authorities
have accused armed dissidents of provoking clashes during the street
protests. Human rights groups say security forces have opened fire on
protesters.
Tuesday's
announcement came after nearly two weeks of protests over water
shortages, mostly in southwest Iran, which have turned political and
spread to other areas
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"Mossad
operatives intended to use the equipment in urban riots and
assassinations," an Intelligence Ministry official said, according to
state media, referring to Israel's intelligence agency. The official did
not give details.
The
seized weapons included pistols, grenades, assault rifles and
ammunition, the unnamed official said, adding: "Some of these are used
to provoke clashes during protests."
There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials.
This week, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz will travel to
France to discuss spyware sold by Israeli cyber firm NSO that
was allegedly used to target French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron's
phone was on a list of targets that were possibly under surveillance by
Morocco, which used NSO Group's Pegasus software, according to France's
Le Monde newspaper. The French leader has called for an investigation.
Gantz will meet French Defense Minister Florence Parly on Wednesday, an official Israeli statement said.
A
global investigation published last week by 17 media organizations, led
by the Paris-based non-profit journalism group Forbidden Stories, said
Pegasus had been used in attempted and successful hacks of smartphones
belonging to journalists, government officials and human rights
activists.
READ MORE: France's Macron to hold cabinet meeting on Pegasus spyware case
Israel has since set up a senior inter-ministerial team to assess any possible misuse of the spyware.