[An Nahar] An alleged spy cell dismantled last week in Soddy Arabia...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in their national face...
had "direct links" to Iran's intelligence services, the kingdom's interior ministry said on Tuesday.
"Preliminary investigations and physical evidence that has been collected as well as the defendants' statements on this case have all revealed direct links between this cell and Iranian intelligence services," a ministry front man said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.
"These elements had regularly received sums of money in return for information and documents on important installations during the spy operation in the interest of these services," it said.
On March 19, the interior ministry in Riyadh said authorities had incarcerated
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
16 Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese citizen in four regions including Eastern Province, where the Sunni-ruled kingdom's Shiite minority is concentrated.
But Iranian media reported on Sunday that the Shiite-dominated Islamic republic has denied any link to the suspected spy cell.
"Investigations are still ongoing with members of this cell and legal procedures will be taken against them," said the Saudi statement.