Iran´s intelligence ministry announced that it has arrested more than 15 Iranian and foreign suspects belonging to an Israeli- linked "assassination" network, media sources reported on Tuesday.

The ministry also said it has uncovered a spy base run by Israel´s Mossad in an unspecified neighboring country. "So far 15 people, holding Iranian birth certificates and foreigners, have been arrested," the ministry was quoted as saying.

The statement said the group´s mission "was to identify and assassinate one of our nation´s experts and to bomb some of the nation´s installations using professionally made technical tools."

It did not identify the alleged targets.

The statement added that the intelligence that uncovered the alleged Israeli-linked group led to "reliable information which showed the Zionist regime illegally used diplomatic missions in some Western countries" to support the group´s missions.

Iran frequently announces the arrest of suspected spies working for Israel or the United States without presenting evidence supporting the charges of indictment. (IsraelNationalNews © 2012 04/18/12)