Senior Iranian official suspected of spying on Iran's nuclear program

The name of the detainee has not been released, but he was identified as an employee of the parliamentary research center. The center provides research services and advice to parliamentarians and security on strategic issues.

The announcement made by an Iranian government spokesman said "the man had been passing secret information, including timetables on nuclear activity, to hypocrites."

Reports of an upcoming trial have been publicized on Iranian internet sites, but the date has not yet been released.

The term "hypocrites" is a reference to the Paris-based Iranian opposition group Mojahedin-e-Khalq, also known as the People's Holy Warriors of Iran. Over the last four years, the group has divulged classified information regarding Iran's nuclear program, including locations of nuclear sites that the Iranian government failed to report to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The group also exposed the existence of uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and heavy water plant at Arak.

Iran once claimed that the opposition group obtained the classified information from Israeli and American intelligence bodies. In 2004 the Iranians claimed that they had arrested ten military officers on suspicion that they had transferred classified information regarding Iran's nuclear program to the Mossad and the CIA. However, at the time, Iran claimed the leaked information was worthless.

The Mojahedin-e-Khalq is classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organization because during Iran's shah period the group was involved in the kidnapping and assassination of U.S. citizens.

Despite the fact that the organization appears on the American terror list, it appears that a relationship is being cultivated between the militant organization and U.S. intelligence agencies. The Iranian opposition group operates intelligence rings within Iran, and the Americans often rely on their services. Haaretz