Iran says eight CIA agents detained during fuel protest ‘conspiracy’
- Suspects, whose nationalities were not disclosed, allegedly passed on information, photos and videos of unrest to US intelligence agency
- Tehran has blamed demonstrations over fuel hikes on US, saying it was seeking to topple country’s Islamic political system
Eight alleged CIA agents have been detained in connection with protests in Iran directed at fuel price hikes, after the country's supreme leader called the unrest a “dangerous conspiracy” orchestrated by the United States.
A total of six of the eight people were detained during the riots, while the other two were taken into custody while trying to flee the country, state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday, citing an Iranian intelligence agency statement.
The eight suspects, who were allegedly in disguise as journalists and whose nationalities were not disclosed, were responsible for passing on information, pictures and videos of the unrest to the US intelligence agency.
The government had largely shut down the internet, restricting the flow of information about the demonstrations.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, earlier in the day called the recent unrest a “dangerous conspiracy” orchestrated by the US.
“The enemies sent their army onto the field under the pretence of higher fuel prices,” Khamenei said in comments carried by state television.