IRGC: We Have Arrested Members of Western Governments' Infiltration Network

The Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reported the arrest of "several members of an infiltration network collaborating with hostile Western governments that were active in the country's cyberspace and media" during this week. According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the IRGC's announcement, published on Tuesday, November 3, claims that the arrested individuals were affiliated with the "governments of the United States and the United Kingdom," but no names of the detainees were mentioned. The IRGC added that the arrests were made "after months of continuous intelligence monitoring and comprehensive oversight of the dimensions of this network's activities." In recent days, Eisa Saharkhiz, a reformist journalist, and Ehsan Mazandarani, the editor-in-chief of Farhikhtegan newspaper, have been arrested, but the connection of these arrests to the alleged "infiltration network" is unclear. Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and several senior security and military officials have repeatedly warned in recent weeks about American "infiltration" into Iran. In his recent remarks, Khamenei reiterated these issues, stating that "one of the Americans' actions in recent years is to compel individuals to beautify the image of America," adding, "Some do this maliciously, and some do it out of naivety." Fars News Agency also reported that Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor-in-chief of Kayhan newspaper, stated on Tuesday, November 3, at a conference titled "Infiltration Forbidden" that "America is seeking to infiltrate decision-making and policy-making centers. One of the ways of infiltration is to capture intermediaries." Currently, four Iranian-American citizens named Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, Jason Rezaian, and Siamak Namazi are imprisoned in Iran. Robert Levinson, an American citizen and former FBI agent, has also disappeared in Iran, and Washington is demanding Tehran investigate his fate.