Iran says it has arrested a spy working for the British intelligence agency MI6 in the southeastern city of Kerman.

The semiofficial ISNA news agency quoted a Kerman judiciary official, Dadkhoda Salari, as saying the alleged spy had admitted being in contact with agents of the British spy agency 11 times, both in Iran and abroad.

Salari said the man had confessed and is currently standing trial.

Iran periodically claims to have captured spies working for foreign countries, but few details are provided in these cases.

The news comes as Iran and Britain take steps to try to reestablish diplomatic relations after Britain shut down its embassy in Tehran in 2011.

It also comes after Tehran agreed last month to curb some of its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa