In the midst of mounting tensions between the West and Iran, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence on Monday claimed that it had captured 17 US intelligence officers between March of 2018 and 2019.
Iran said the spies had been working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and that some had been sentenced to death after their arrest. Analysts consider the announcement to be a provocative move made by Tehran to show that it is not backing down in its standoff with the US and its allies.
Read more: Iran says it arrests CIA spies, Gulf tensions simmer
