Iran detains 10 spies near Pakistan border

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran detained 10 spies carrying $500,000 in cash who had entered the Islamic Republic illegally from neighbouring Pakistan, state television said on Saturday.

Modern espionage cameras and maps of sensitive regions in Iran were found when the group was detained in Iran's south-eastern Sistan-Baluchestan province bordering Pakistan, the report said.

Television did not give any details on their nationality or say when they were detained.

Sistan-Baluchestan is a volatile province known for frequent clashes between security forces and well-armed drug smugglers.

Iran has in the past accused the United States and Britain of trying to destabilize the country by supporting ethnic minority rebels operating in sensitive border areas.

The United States is leading efforts to isolate Iran over its nuclear programme, which the West fears is a cover for a drive to build nuclear bombs. Tehran says it wants only to generate electricity.

(Reporting by Hossein Jaseb and Hashem Kalantari; Writing by Fredrik Dahl)