US, Saudi-sponsored elements arrested in Iran

Tasnim News Agency reported on Wednesday that the police in Iran arrested three individuals in connection with US and Saudi-based organizations, commissioned to stir unrest in the country amid the recent riots.

The organizations these individuals are reportedly connected to are US-based Tavana Tech and Saudi-sponsored television Iran International.

They have been carrying out their operations under the guise of working as citizen reporters and have reportedly cashed out considerable amounts of money via a 'money laundering' model, according to sources close to the matter.

They likewise exercised a method known as "news laundering” to misinform the West with the spread of fake news. This method implies the upload of stories and information in certain databases coordinated with foreign entities so as to avoid getting caught by authorities.

On Friday, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry and the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC issued a joint statement in which they highlighted the major role of foreign spy agencies, especially the CIA, in orchestrating the violent riots in Iran in recent weeks.

“Continuous and precise” intelligence monitoring in the past year, as well as acquired documents during the recent unrest, reveals “numerous examples and undeniable evidence of the all-out role of the American terrorist regime in designing, implementing, and maintaining” the unrest, they said in the statement.

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that US officials were warned by Saudi Arabia that Iran was preparing an "imminent threat".

The credibility of the entire report is questionable as ties between the Gulf country and the US have been souring lately - particularly in light of the recent decision undertaken by OPEC+ to slash oil production by two million barrels a day.

In response to the decision, President Biden said he is contemplating drawing back on shipping military aid to the Kingdom that includes advanced weaponry, such as Patriot missiles, as punishment.