'US-linked spies pursued econ. Goals' A senior Iranian cleric says the individuals recently arrested for spying for the United States were on a mission aimed at weakening the Islamic Republic’s economy. “The enemy hopes to disappoint [Iranian] people and deal a blow to the establishment through economic pressures. Therefore, one of the missions pursued by the recently arrested spies was to pave the way for public dissatisfaction so that they could work in the economic sector,” Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, member of Iran’s Expediency Council, told Fars news agency on Monday. He referred to the remarks of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and said the enemy has been seeking to weaken the Islamic Republic economically from the very beginning of the victory of the Islamic Revolution. In a meeting with Iranian lawmakers on Sunday, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the enemies seek to target Iran’s economy and create a rift among the country’s officials. “The enemy has clearly focused on economic issues to cripple Iran’s economy and disappoint people,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. Earlier this month, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry identified and dismantled an espionage ring affiliated to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). According to a statement by the ministry, 30 individual suspected of spying for the US were arrested and 42 CIA operatives were identified in connection with the network. The network, which was set up by a considerable number of seasoned CIA operatives in several countries, attempted to trick citizens into spying for them under the guise of issuing visa, helping with permanent residency, and making job and study offers. According to the statement, the CIA operatives had gathered information from "universities and scientific research centers, and in the field of nuclear energy, aerospace, defense and biotechnology industries." The spies had also gathered detailed information about the "oil and gas pipelines, telecommunication and electricity networks, airports and customs, the security of the banking and communication systems," by using "US embassies and consulates in several countries particularly in "the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Malaysia." Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi told Press TV that the ring failed to achieve its goals in Iran. He further pointed out that the ministry’s proper planning prevented the spy network to achieve its goals. “The most important outcome of our operation was that the United States did not accomplish its objectives in the Islamic Republic.” Source: presstv.ir