Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has dismissed Saudi Arabia’s claims about the presence of an Iranian national in an alleged spy network in the country.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has dismissed Saudi Arabia’s claims about the presence of an Iranian national in an alleged spy network in the country.

Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement on March 19 that the country’s authorities have arrested 18 people, including an Iranian and a Lebanese, on charges of espionage for a foreign country.

"Sixteen Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese were arrested in coordinated and simultaneous operations in four regions of the kingdom," including the capital Riyadh and the city of Mecca, the statement added.

Although the Saudis did not name the country the suspects were allegedly working for, the announcement that an Iranian is implicated could point to Iran.

The Iranian spokesperson dismissed the allegation as a “baseless and repetitive scenario.”

“Raising such baseless issues at the media levels is merely for domestic consumption,” Mehmanparast said.

"It is a scenario that is being repeated... for domestic consumption

He also criticized Saudi Arabia’s handling of the issue.

Since early 2011, mainly Shiite towns in Eastern Province have seen sporadic protests and confrontations between police and residents demanding reforms and social justice.