Iran’s intelligence forces have arrested an individual on charges of espionage for Israel’s spy agency Mossad in Iranian northwestern province of Ardabil.

The fugitive, whose identity was not immediately available, was wanted by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. He was captured upon an order from the Prosecutor's Office of Ardabil Province.

According to the Media Bureau of the provincial Prosecutor's Office, the Mossad agent was in close contact with high-profile Israeli intelligence officers through social media, and was gathering critical information for them under the guise of a news editor.

He had traveled to several provinces in the hope of taking refuge there and finally leaving the country, before he was identified and captured during a surprise operation in Ardabil Province.

The arrested spy purportedly hails from a region in southern Iran.

Mossad reportedly decided to immediately close his user accounts and delete related information once the news about his arrest emerged.

Earlier this year, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said its forces had identified a significant number of spies linked to Mossad in 28 countries across the world.