Today, Wednesday, the Iranian authorities revealed the arrest of a group of foreigners, including the British assistant ambassador, on charges of spying on the country.
Iranian television reported that the Revolutionary Guards are holding foreigners, including the deputy head of the British mission, "for being involved in espionage."
According to the television, the foreigners were involved in espionage activities "such as taking soil samples in prohibited areas."
State television said that "these spies took samples from the ground in the desert of central Iran, where the Revolutionary Guards were conducting space missile tests."
The TV did not say if the detainees were still in detention.
According to Iranian television, some of the detainees entered Iran as academics and were collecting soil samples from prohibited areas, and were arrested while leaving the country.
The director of Al Jazeera's office, Abdul Qader Fayez, said that the Iranian TV report included pictures of people in a desert area in central Iran, where missile tests are usually conducted, and foreigners and citizens are prohibited from entering it.
Iran often announces the dismantling of spy networks and the arrest of foreign and local agents involved in sabotage.