Report: Iran arrests IRGC general accused of spying for Israel as climate of mistrust grows in Tehran

Iranian authorities reportedly arrested a general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier this month on suspicion that he was spying for Israel in the latest demonstration of the climate of mistrust that is clouding Tehran following several attacks on military and nuclear targets attributed to Israel.

Brig. Gen. Ali Nasiri’s arrest came two months after several dozen employees of the Iranian Defense Ministry’s missile defense program were arrested for leaking classified military intelligence, including blueprints of missiles to Israel, an Iranian official tells The New York Times.

Nasiri served as a senior commander in the IRGC Protection of Information Unit, NYT reports.

His arrest rattled leadership in Tehran, Iranian officials tell The Times, with some calling for the removal of IRGC intelligence chief Hossein Taeb. Taeb asked for another year to improve his standing, but was replaced several days later.