Turkish officials announced in a written statement on Wednesday that police had arrested eight Turkish citizens in simultaneous operations on charges of spying for Iranian intelligence, Turkish media reported on late Wednesday.


The arrests stem from the expansion of an investigation by police after the arrest of two Iranian citizens and one Turkish citizen on Aug. 19, 2011, all of whom were found in possession of digital recorders with information on state security.
Article 327 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) criminalizes the acquisition of information on state security by unauthorized individuals.
Relations between once close allies Iran and Turkey are rapidly deteriorating over Ankara's strong support for Syrian rebels fighting against Iran's key ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Earlier this month in an unprecedented move, Tehran suspended visa-free travel with Turkey for the first time in nearly 50 years.
The revelation of an Iranian spy ring in Turkey's eastern province of Iğdır, which borders Iran, may be the latest blow to a deepening confidence crisis in Turkey regarding the mullahs' regime in Tehran.