Iran refuses foreign intervention over arresting spies

Iran has expressed its regret over statements made by certain foreign circles on arresting a group of spies recently in Iran.

The official spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Hamid Radia Asifi, said that such statements show that persons who made them are not familiar with facts, adding that such statements are a flagrant intervention in the internal affairs of Iran.

The Iranian spokesman denied reports that those persons were arrested for religious reasons. He stressed that religious minorities in Iran enjoy full civil and religious rights according to the Iranian constitution, adding that these minorities take part effectively in administrating the country's affairs.

Asifi added that the judicial authorities in Iran will with total independence try those convicted persons according to laws enforced in the country.

The statements of the Iranian official spokesman were made in reply to statements made by officials in the US and Israel in which they expressed their concern over the arrest of some 13 Iranian Jews recently in the Iranian province of Fares.

The Israeli foreign minister claimed that none of the arrested persons engaged in spying activities or had any links to the Israeli intelligence.