Iranian security forces stand guard in the capital, Tehran, January 12, 2020. (Credit: AFP)
Iran's intelligence ministry said Friday it has arrested the "main actors" involved in last month's drone attack on a defense ministry site in central Isfahan province.
"The main actors of the failed attempt to sabotage one of the industrial centers of the Ministry of Defense in Isfahan were identified and arrested," read a joint statement by the intelligence ministry and the intelligence wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"Due to the ongoing investigation into the case of the accused, additional information will be published at the appropriate time," the statement added. "In short, the involvement of mercenaries of the temporary Zionist regime [Israel] in that action has been proven."
Iranian authorities reported an "unsuccessful" drone attack January 28, targeting a defense ministry "workshop complex" in Isfahan.
An anti-aircraft system destroyed one drone and two others exploded, the defense ministry said at the time, adding that there were no casualties and only minor damage to the site.
Iranian intelligence agencies also warned that "the act of violating the sacred sanctity of the Islamic republic will have additional punishment and will be met with a lesson-learning reaction from the guardians of the security of powerful Iran."
Earlier this month, Iran's envoy to the United Nations accused arch-enemy Israel of being behind the drone attack.
The Nour News Agency, considered close to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also accused Iraq-based Kurdish groups of involvement.
Iran has been engaged in a shadow war with Israel for years, with Tehran accusing Israel of being behind a series of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear program, carried out alongside the United States.