New Delhi: Iran on Monday said it has dismantled a spy-ring linked to the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency.

As per news agency AFP, the country claimed that it has arrested some 17 people associated with the CIA ring and has even sentenced some to death.

“Iran intelligence says it identifies 17 CIA spies,” state news agency IRNA also tweeted on Monday.

It quoted an Intelligence Ministry as saying it had broken up a CIA spying ring and captured 17 suspects.

The announcement comes amid a tensed US-Iran situation which snowballed after April when US imposed stringent sanctions on the country. Few days ago, the country  seized a British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, in the month of June Iran had announced that it had busted a large cyber espionage network , which it alleged, was run by the CIA. It also said that several US spies had been arrested in many countries as a result of this action.

In the ship apprehended by Iran, 18 Indian nationals are among the 23 crew members, reports said. India on Saturday, said it was in touch with Iran to secure release of the Indians on board the British-flagged oil tanker.