TEHRAN, Mar 31 (V7N) — Iranian security forces have arrested two individuals in the country's northwest on charges of spying for the United States and Israel, Qatar-based Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday. The arrests come amid the 32nd day of heightened military tensions and ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli alliance.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated raid in the Osku area of the East Azerbaijan province. Authorities allege that the two men were involved in collecting and transmitting sensitive data regarding "important national installations" to foreign intelligence agencies.

Investigators claim the suspects were operating as part of a sophisticated digital espionage ring, receiving payments in cryptocurrency to mask the financial trail of their activities. This method of payment has become a recurring theme in recent Iranian internal security reports as the state cracks down on perceived domestic threats during the war.

Following their capture, the two individuals were handed over to the relevant judicial and security authorities for further interrogation. The Iranian government has frequently accused Western powers of using local informants to sabotage its nuclear and military infrastructure, particularly as the U.S. Treasury recently signaled a long-term goal of retaking control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The arrests in East Azerbaijan—a strategic region bordering Turkey and Armenia—underscore Iran's heightened internal surveillance as it navigates both a kinetic war and a clandestine intelligence battle.

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