The Iranian authorities have announced the arrests of several people who are linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency and who had tried to gather intelligence data about the recent disturbances in Iran and transfer them abroad, reports Tasnim, citing the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran.

According to the ministry’s information, those eight people have been under the supervision of the CIA through training programs in different countries for a long time, and during the protests, it became clear that they have their respective assignments.

Earlier this month, citizens of Iran launched protests against the government’s decision to increase petrol prices. The protests led to disturbances, and the country’s authorities claim that they were organized by foreign countries.